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THE 


OLD  NINETEENTH 


TENNESSEE  REGIMENT, 


C.  S.  A. 


June,  1861.     *    April,  1865. 


BY     DR.    W.    J.    WORSHAM, 

ICnoacville,    Tenn. 


Supplementary    Chapter    t>y 

COL.     C.     \V.     HEISKELL, 

Memphis,     Tenn. 


KNOXVILLE,  TENN. 

PRESS    OF    PARAGON    PRINTING    COMPANY. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1902, 

Copyrighted  by 

DR.  W.  J.  WORSHAM, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


-5*79, 


DEDICATION. 


'T^O  the  survivors,  and  in  memory  of  the  dead  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee 
Regiment,  C.  S.  A.,  who,  through  sunshine  and  storm,  summer's  heat 
and  winter's  blast— whose  bed,  often  was  the  frozen  ground,  and  whose  cover 
was  the  beautiful  white  snow — the  many  hardships  endured  and  the  privations 
of  army  life  suffered,  all  for  loved  ones  at  home  and  their  loved  Sunny  South, 
is  this  book  respectfully  dedicated  by 

THE   AUTHOR. 

Knoxville,  Tenn.,  January  10,  1902. 


461492 


PREFACE. 


This  is  not  a  history  of  the  "late  war,"  or  of  the  Confederacy.  The 
reader  of  this  modest  volume  will  need  to  keep  in  mind  the  fact  the  author 
proposes  to  confine  himself,  historically,  to  what  one  regiment  of  Tennes- 
seeans  did  in  the  civil  war.  He  will  find  a  simple  and  truthful  statement  of 
facts,  without  comment  or  criticism ,  without  bitterness  or  exaggeration.  Him- 
self an  honest  and  faithful  soldier,  the  author  tells  in  a  straightforward  way, 
what  he  and  his  comrades  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment  did  and  suf- 
fered in  that  cruel  war.  There  is  no  reference  to  the  long  line  of  social  and 
political  influences  which  led  up  to  the  painful  necessity  on  the  part  of  the 
Southern  people,  to  either  forfeit  their  own  self-respect,  and  the  respect  of 
all  brave  men,  or  go  to  war.  And  this  is  well.  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead. 
There  is  no  "bloody-shirt"  here.  But  this  will  not  surprise  the  reader  when 
he  remembers  that  the  author  was  himself  a  soldier.  For  it  is  a  well  known 
fact  that  it  is  not  the  brave  and  patriotic  men  in  Blue  and  Gray,  who  stood  on 
the  firing-line  in  the  day  of  battle  that  would  keep  the  fires  of  fraternal  strife 
still  burning.  But  a  different  breed,  whelps  from  another  kennel,  who  cow- 
ardly came  out  after  the  killing  was  done,  with  the  instincts  of  the  hyena,  to 
dig  up  dead  and  putrid  things.  Thank  God  the  tribe  is  about  extinct,  died 
of  pure  air  and  sunshine.  These  East  Tennesseeans  surrendered  as  the  brave 
surrender,  meaning  peace  and  conciliation.  They  returned  to  the  union  in 
good  faith  as  equals,  they  remain  in  the  union  as  its  trustworthy  friends. 
"With  no  humble  apologies,  no  unmanly  servility,  cherishing  no  petty  strife, 
and  indulging  no  sullen  treachery,  they  are  frank,  honest,  patriotic  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  accepting  the  present,  trusting  the  future,  and  proud  of 
the  past." 

For  myself,  I  want  to  thank  the  author  for  this  book.  It  calls  up  and 
puts  in  permanent  form,  facts,  long  since  familiar,  which  would  otherwise 
soon  be  lost.  Comrades  of  the  old  Nineteenth,  remnant  of  the  1060  who  went 
out  with  us,  we  owe  more  than  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  author,  for  his  efforts 
to  preserve  the  history  of  the  patriotic  courage  and  deeds  of  noble  daring  of 
these  men,  many  of  whom  fell  in  battle,  and  many  others  since  the  war  have 
"crossed  over  the  river  and  rest  under  the  shade  of  the  trees."  Our  children 
will  thank  him  for  thus  putting  in  simple  narrative  the  incidents,  in  regular 
order,  of  our  marches,  our  camp-life  and  our  battles.  But  this  will  not  help 
pay  for  the  publication  of  the  book.  Remember  it  has  a  limited  scope,  and 
under  the  conditions  can  not  have  a  very  extensive  circulation.  Let  us  see 
that  the  good  Doctor  has  readers  enough  to  meet  the  cost  of  the  work. 

And  when  the  roll  is  called  up  yonder,  may  we  all  be  there,  is  the  earnest 
prayer  of  your  long-time  and  loving  chaplain. 

D.  SULLINS. 

Cleveland,  Tenn.,  January,  1902. 


DR.  W.  J.  WORSHAM. 

Dr.  W.  J.  Worsham  was  born  on  the  Hiwassee,  one  mile  above  Calhoun, 
Tenn.,  January,  1840.  Joined  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate  regi- 
ment  in  June,  1861.  Was  made  Chief  Musician  of  the  regiment,  which  he 
filled  to  the  close  of  the  war.  Called  the  men  into  line  for  their  first  roll-call; 
was  with  the  regiment  through  the  war  and  called  the  men  into  lino  for  the  last 
roll-call  in  May,  1865. 


THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE,  C  S.  A. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  late  "Rebellion"  or  the  war  between  the  North  and 
the  South  will  furnish  themes  for  discussion,  and  battle 
scenes  to  be  gone  over  again  by  all  who  were  engaged  in 
it,  and  after  they  have  passed  into  the  beyond,  its  history  will 
go  down  the.  ages  to  be  read  by  coining  generations.  The 
war  cloud  that  spread  over  this  country  in  1861,  grew  from  a 
dark  spot  not  bigger  than  a  man's  hand,  seen  first  in  1620, 
and  out  of  which  issued  the  edict  calling  forth  the  19th  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  and  enrolling  her  name  upon  the  War  God's 
historic  scroll.  When  the  "Mayflower"  landed  her  cargo  of 
Puritan  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth  Rock,  they  found  negro  slavery, 
evidently  the  germ  of  the  late  rebellion,  planted  in  the  soil  of 
American  civilization.  There  it  germinated  and  matured,  until 
in  the  spring  of  1861  its  agitation  resulted  in  civil  war.  This 
negro  question,  not  yet  observed  by  the  masses,  was  evidently 
the  dark  background  of  the  coming  struggle.  Of  all  the  storm 
clouds  that  have  passed  over  this  country,  none  ever  blackened 
political  firmanent  as  did  this.  The  darkness  was  so  black  and 
ominous  as  to  attract  the  anxious  gaze  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  nations  looked  on  with  profound  interest.  It  is  true  this 
land  has  heard  the  roar  of  musketry  and  cannon  through  her 
hills  and  valleys  in  the  long  years  gone  by,  but  the  fearful 
destructiveness  of  this  coming  storm,  was  all  undreamed  of  by 
her  people.  Soon  the  nation's  heartstrings  would  be  torn 
asunder,  and  her  life  blood  let  out  through  thousands  of  pores, 
and  the  North  and  Sunny  South  would  lament  their  fallen  sons 
and  ruined  homes. 

The  tocsin  of  war  was  now  heard  throughout  the  whole 
land,  from  the  north  to  the  south,  from  the  east  to  the  west. 
The  line  was  drawn,  and  in  the  division  the  South  was  the 


8  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

smaller  in  territory  and  resources.  Practically  she  had  nothing, 
yet  there  was  excitement  and  a  gathering  of  people.  Compa- 
nies, regiments,  and  brigades  were  formed.  Tennessee,  cast 
her  lot  with  the  South  June  8,  1861.  She  had  no  ammunition 
and  no  guns  save  a  few  old  flint-locks,  the  relics  of  the  Mexi- 
can war;  yet  Generals  Pillow  and  Polk  in  Middle  and  West 
Tennessee,  and  General  Zollicoffer  in  East  Tennessee,  were 
organizing.  In  East  Tennesse  companies  from  Bristol  to  Chat- 
tanooga were  gathering  at  Knoxville. 

Col.  J.  C.  Vaughn,  having  completed  one  regiment  had  gone 
on  to  Virginia.  On  June  the  10th,  1861,  the  old  19th  organ- 
ized with  companies  made  up  all  along  the  line  of  East  Ten- 
nessee, Virginia  and  Georgia  Railroad  from  Bristol  to  Chatta- 
nooga. We  organized  in  the  old  fair  ground,  about  one  mile 
east  of  the  city  of  Knoxville. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  camp  was  called  Camp  Cummings,  in  honor  of  Col.  D. 
H.  Cummings,  the  first  colonel  of  the  regiment.  The  following 
officers  were  elected  to  command  the  regiment  and  companies : 

David  H.  Cummings Colonel. 

Frank  M.  Walker Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Abe  Fulkerson Major. 

V.  Q.  Johnson Adjutant. 

H.  Mell  Doak Sergeant-Major. 

Dr.  Joe  E.  Dulany Surgeon. 

A.  D.  Taylor Quartermaster. 

Rev.  D.  Sullins Chaplain. 

BY  APPOINTMENT. 

W.  J.  Worsham,  ^ 

Rufus  Lamb,         > Regimental  Musicians, 

James  Tyner,        ) 

COMPANIES. 

Co.^  A— John  D.  Powell Captain Hamilton  Co. 

1st  Lieutenant ...         " 

Daniel  Kennedy 2d 

Frank  Foust 3d 

Co.  B— Zeb  T.  Willett Captain Washington  Co. 

Joseph  Conley 1st  Lieutenant. . .          "  " 

Nathan  Gregg 2d 

"      James  G.  Deaderick.. 3d 


ORGANIZATION. 

Co.  C — James  K.  Snapp Captain Sullivan          Co. 

' '      Charles  St.  John 1st  Lieutenant. . .       " 

"      Geo.  H.Hull 2d 

"      John  M.Jones 3d 

Co.  D— Elmon  E.  Colvill Captain Ehea 

"       Pete  Miller 1st  Lieutenant 

"      James  A.  Wallace... ad 
"      8.  J.  A.  Frazier 3d 

Co.  E — John  W.  Paxton Captain Knoxville. 

''      John  M.  Miller 1st  Lieutenant 

"      J.  K.  Graham 2d 

"      Wm.  W.  Lackey 3d 

Co.  F-J.  H.  Hannah Captain Polk 

"      P.  C.  Gaston, 1st  Lieutenant 

"      J.M.Sims 2d 

44      J.  C.  Holms 3d 

Co.  G — A.  L.  Gammon Captain Sullivan 

"      Jas.  A.  Ehea 1st  Lieutenant  " 

"      Robt.  L.  Blair 2d 

James  Carlton 3d 

Co.  H — Wm.  H.  Lowery Captain McMinn          " 

"      U.  S.  York 1st  Lieutenant. . 

"      D.  A.  Wilds 2d 

Thomas  Maston 3d 

Co.  I— T.  H.  Walker Captain Hamilton 

"      B.  F.  Moore 1st  Lieutenant 

"      Warren  Hooper 2d 

"      JohnLovejoy 3d 

Co.  K-C.  W.  Heiskell Captain Hawkins 

"      Robt.  D.  Powell 1st  Lieutenant 

"      Sam  P.  Powell 2d 

Sam  Spears 3d 

Company  A  had 97    Company  F  had 93 

B    "   100  "         G    "    110 

C    "    104  "         H   "    94 

D    "    103  "         I     "    110 

E    "    106  K   "    100 

The  number  of  men  enrolled  of  rank  and  file  was  one  thou- 
sand and  twelve,  and  of  commissioned  officers  forty-eight,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  one  thousand  and  sixty  (1,060.) 

Now  we  began  camp  life  in  earnest.  Formed  messes  of  four 
to  six  in  each  mess.  Each  mess  had  one  tent,  tin  plates,  cups 
and  cooking  utensils.  Each  man  had  one  blanket,  one  can- 
teen, one  napsack  and  one  haversack. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

CAMP   CUMMINGS. 

THIS  was  indeed  a  new  life  to  us,  and  a  more  restless  set  of 
men  could  not  be  found  than  were  we.  Every  hour  of  the 
long  day  from  the  dim,  gray,  misty  light  of  dawn  to  the 
soft  glow  of  shadowy  evening  was  full  of  excitement  and  new 
delights  to  us. 

Although  drill  was  the  order  of  the  day,  yet  when  not  drill- 
ing the  men  were  on  the  move  all  the  time,  until  taps  put  an 
end  to  the  restlessness  and  quiet  reigned. 

The  different  maneuvers  in  drill  and  in  the  manual  of  arms 
occupied  our  attention  during  the  day.  There  were  guards  at 
regular  intervals  around  the  encampment.  These  were  called 
sentinels  and  had  so  far  to  walk  back  and  forth,  called  beats. 

During  the  hours  of  the  night,  when  the  dull  tramp  of  the 
soldier  was  hushed  in  sleep,  no  sound  was  heard  save  that  of 
the  slow  tread  of  the  sentinel  on  his  beat,  and  the  calling  of  the 
post  and  hour  by  the  sentinels.  How  lonely  it  did  sound  in 
the  dead  hours  of  the  night  as  they  called  out,  "Post  number 
one,  all  is  well." 

Col.  Cummings  had  an  old  negro  man  named  "Munger," 
old  Munger  was  a  fifer  and  could  play  only  one  tune,  which  he 
called  "My  wife  is  sick, my  wife  is  sick."  Poor  Munger,  I  can 
hear  him  now.  Munger  stayed  with  the  regiment  till  we  reached 
Cumberland  Ford,  Ky.  On  one  occasion  in  order  to  try  the 
men,  the  enemy  was  announced  advancing  and  we  were  ordered 
out,  as  we  supposed,  to  fight.  The  test  being  made,  the  regi- 
ment returned  to  camp.  Old  Munger  had  a  tent.  In  his  fright 
he  run  and  stuck  his  head  into  the  tent,  lying  on  his  belly  with 
his  feet  outside  shaking  as  if  he  had  a  regular  buck-ague. 
Munger  was  a  Guinea  negro  and  believed  he  was  four  hundred 
years  old. 

June  the  22ud,  companies  A  and  E  were  ordered  to  Cum- 
berland Gap  under  command  of  Capt.  J.  D.  Powell.  The  field 
band,  of  which  we  had  charge,  was  ordered  with  them.  We 
boarded  the  cars  at  the  depot  and  moved  out  for  Morristown, 


CAMP  CUMMINGS.  11 

Tenn.,  from  which  place  we  marched  across  the  country  to  the 
Gap.  We  camped  the  first  night  at  Bean  Station,  a  fine  water- 
ing place,  at  the  foot  of  Clinch  Mountain.  There  were  black 
and  white  sulphur  besides  other  waters. 

BARBECUE. 

As  we  entered  the  gorge  in  which  the  springs  are  situated 
the  air  was  perceptibly  loaded  with  sulphurated  hydrogen,  one 
of  the  boys  cried  out,  "We  are  at  the  headquarters  for  rotten 
eggs."  The  next  day,  by  pre-arrangement  of  the  ladies,  they 
gave  us  a  "barbecue"  at  the  Station.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren were  there,  from  all  around.  Our  two  companies  marched 
and  countermarched,  while  our  band  did  its  best,  marching  at 
the  head  of  the  column. 

We  were  the  "elephant"  that  day.  On  the  morning  of  the 
24th  we  moved  on  towards  the  Gap,  encountering  rough  roads, 
and  crossing  Clinch  and  Powell  rivers.  We  pitched  our  tents 
within  two  miles  of  the  Gap,  where  we  remained  two  or  three 
days.  While  here  Sergeant  David  Kuhn  accidentally  shot  him- 
self with  a  pistol  through  the  hand,  and  was  registered  upon  the 
surgeon's  book  as  the  first  casualty  of  the  regiment. 

June  the  27th  we  moved  up  in  the  Gap  and  pitched  our  tents 
on  the  mountain  top, 

"Up  in  the  region  of  the  clouds 
Where  the  cold  winds  blow 
Our  tents  of  fancy  stuck." 

Our  encampment  here  was  on  high,  steep  and  rough  ground 
—so  steep  the  boys  declared  they  had  to  tie  themselves  in  the 
bed  at  night  to  keep  from  rolling  out.  Lieut.  Col.  F.  W. 
Walker  came  on  to  the  Gap  in  a  few  days  after  our  arrival. 
When  Companies  A  and  E  left  Knoxville,  Companies  F  and  H, 
under  command  of  Maj.  Fulkerson,  went  to  Jamestown,  about 
seventy-five  miles  from  the  Gap,  on  the  Cumberland  range. 

Soon  after  these,  Col.  Cummings  left  with  four  companies, 
B,  D,  G  and  I,  and  moved  out  by  way  of  Clinton  and  camped 
for  a  while  near  his  old  home.  From  this  place  he  proceeded 
to  Big  Creek  Gap  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  where  he 
remained  until  the  4th  of  July.  Companies  C  and  K  were  sent 
to  London,  Tenn.,  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge  at  that  place. 
We  had  not  been  long  in  the  Gap,  when  one  of  Company  A  was 
taken  sick  and  died,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors.  His 


12  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

death  was  the  first  recorded  in  the  regiment.    Men,  women  and 
children  carne  into  the  camp  daily,  bringing  butter,  chickens, 
eggs,  etc.,  to  sell.     Soon  we  had  the  Confederate  flag  floating 
in  the  breeze  from  the  "Pinnacle,"  one  of  the  highest  points  of 
the  mountains.    Up  in  Virginia,  some  ten  miles,  were  a  few 
cavalrymen,  who  did  picket  duty  along  this  part  of  the  moun- 
tain.   One  day  in  July  these  cavalrymen  brought  into  camp 
some  twenty  men  as  prisoners,  whom  they  had  captured,  who 
were  making  their  way  across  the  mountain  into  Kentucky. 
Among  them  was  Thos.  A.  R.  Nelson,  of  Jonesboro,  Tenn. 
Col.  Walker  sent  them  on  to  Knoxville.    Frequently  men  would 
come  into  camp  and  remain  until  late  at  night  and  go  home. 
Here  we  had  sentinels  all  around  our  encampment,  as  the  ground 
was   so   rough.     One  post  was  within  ten  steps  of  my  tent, 
which  was  twenty  feet  above  the  road  leading  up  the  mountain. 
The  sentinel  was  posted  in  the  road.     One  evening  a  Virgin- 
ian came  into  camp  riding  a  fine  horse,  hitched  him  and  entered, 
remaining  late.    The  night  was  dark  and  the  overhanging  trees 
where  the  sentinel  stood  rendered  the  darkness  more  intense. 
About  nine  o'clock  the  sentry  heard  steps  approaching  in  the 
road  on  the  inside  of  the  camp,  as  if  some  one  was  trying  to 
slip  by  him,  or  upon  him.    Whatever  it  was,  it  would  make 
one  or  two  steps  cautiously  and  halt,  then  two  or  three  more, 
then  halt  again.    Being  so  dark  the  sentry  could  not  see  any- 
thing.   Close  and  closer  came  the  steps,  when  we  heard  the 
sentinel  challenge  the  approaching  footsteps :    "Halt,  halt !  Who 
comes  there?"  But  no  response.  A  step  or  two  more,  and  "halt," 
cried  the  sentinel,  yet  the  steps  came  closer.     Click,  click,  we 
heard  the  sentinel's  gun,  as  he  made  ready  to  fire.     "Halt," 
once  more  he  cried,  and  bang  went  his  gun.    A  horse  wheeled 
and  ran  back  some  twenty  steps  and  fell  dead.     It  was  the  fine 
horse  the  Virginian  rode  in  the  evening  before.    It  had  gotten 
loose  and  was  trying  to  get  by  the  sentinel.     Col.  Walker  was 
carelessly  handling  or  shaking  a  box  of  caps  in  his  hand  when 
they  exploded,  blowing  open  the  box,  and  pieces  of  the  caps  cut 
his  hand  in  several  places. 

July  the  4th  Col.  Cummings  came  up  to  the  Gap  with  the 
four  companies  he  had  with  him,  and  the  third  day  after  Maj. 
Fulkerson  came  up  with  the  two  he  had.  All  the  regiment  was 
here  now,  and  drill  was  the  order  of  the  day.  We  had  to  go 
down  into  the  valley  on  the  Tennessee  side  to  find  ground  on 


FOG.  13 

which  to  drill.  We  fortified  the  Gap  by  throwing  up  works 
across  the  Gap.  Building  the  breastworks  and  drill  gave  us 
something  to  do. 

The  Rev.  David  Sullins  was  our  Chaplain  with  whom  we  all 
were  in  love.  He  preached  for  us  regularly  every  Sunday 
morning,  and  in  the  evening  we  had  Sunday-school — our  chap- 
lain, our  superintendent.  Now  and  then  false-alarms  would  be 
given,  and  such  a  hustling  of  the  men  on  the  mountain  side  to 
get  into  line. 

When  the  alarm  would  be  given  at  night,  the  men  in  their 
hurry  to  form  line,  would  fall  down  and  sometimes  roll  down 
the  mountain  side  several  feet  before  getting  a  foothold. 

In  the  Gap  our  camps  were  up  in  the  clouds.  And  fre- 
quently we  would  be  in  the  center  of  a  storm  cloud  and  the 
lightning  would  seem  to  leap  out  of  the  clouds  and  fall  in 
round  balls  to  the  ground. 

A  DENSE  FOG. 

One  clear,  bright  morning  about  nine  o'clock,  the  sun 
seemed  to  shine  with  unusual  brightness.  A  dense  fog  came 
drifting  down  the  mountain  hunting  a  place  to  cross.  It  was  so 
heavy  it  could  not  rise  above  the  mountain  top  and  sought  an 
opening  in  the  Gap. 

On  reaching  the  Gap  it  began  pouring  itself  through,  and 
so  dense  was  it,  for  an  hour  the  sun  could  not  be  seen,  and 
part  of  the  time  we  could  not  see  an  object  ten  feet  ahead  of  us. 

Our  short  stay  in  the  Gap  will  long  be  remembered.  About 
the  last  of  August  Col.  Branners'  battalion  of  cavalry  came  up 
to  the  Gap,  and  they  were  closely  followed  by  the  Fifteenth  Mis- 
sissippi, (Col.  W.  S.  Statham),  the  Eleventh  Tennessee,  (Rains), 
Seventeenth  Tennessee,  (Col.  Newman),  Twentieth  Tennessee, 
(Col.  Battle),  Twenty-ninth  Tennessee,  (Col.  Powell) ,  and  Capt. 
Rut  ledge's  Artillery. 

The  next  day  Brig.  General  F.  K.  Zollicoffer  with  his  staff 
came  and  took  command  of  the  entire  force  at  the  Gap.  On  the 
fourth  of  September  General  Zollicoffer  moved  the  command  out 
to  Cumberland  Ford  on  the  Cumberlaind  river  and  established 

CAMP   ZOLLICOFFER. 

Here  the  cavalry  were  kept  at  the  front  all  the  time  on  picket 
duty.  While  here  our  regiment  received  ten  instruments  for 
the  brass  band  and  music  complete.  We  formed  a  band  and 


14  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

after  a  little  practice  began  playing  on  duty.  We  Jiked  our 
young  band  but  its  life,  like  that  of  the  "May-Fly,"  was  short 
in  duration.  Our  encampment  looked  quite  military.  We  had 
about  six  thousand  two  hundred  men.  .  September  twelfth 
General  Zollicoffer  sent  out  a  detachment  under  Col.  Battle, 
composed  of  two  companies  from  each  regiment  and  one  battal- 
ion of  cavalry  to  Barboursville,  Kentucky  where  it  was  reported 
a  force  of  the  enemy  was  encamped.  Companies  B  and  K 
were  detailed  from  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment.  Early 
in  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth  they  ran  upon  the  enemy  in  a 
corn  field  just  this  side  of  the  town.  Company  K,  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee  was  thrown  out  as  a  skirmish  line,  and  it  ad- 
vanced on  the  enemy  and  began  firing.  While  it  was  but  a 
small  skirmish  line,  and  this  being  their  first  under  fire,  it 
seemed  like  fighting  and  sounded  of  battle.  In  this  little  battle 
Lieutenant  Robert  Powell,  of  Co.  K  was  killed,  and  a  few  oth- 
ers were  wounded .  This  made  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  lose  the 
first  man  killed  outside  of  Virginia.  The  detachment  returned 
next  day,  and  Lieut.  Powell's  remains  were  sent  home  for  burial. 
General  Zollicoffer  sent  our  regiment  accompanied  by  Colonel 
Carter's  regiment  of  cavalry  on  an  expedition  to 

GOOSE  CREEK  SALT  WORKS, 

about  forty  miles  north  in  the  Kentucky  mountains.  It  had  been 
raining  for  several  days,  and  the  morning  of  September  25th, 
we  started  out  in  one  of  the  hardest  rains  that  had  fallen  for  some 
time.  We  encountered  rough  mountainous  roads  and  swollen 
streams.  Some  places  on  our  journey  we  could  not  see  a  hun- 
dred yards  except  by  looking  up.  We  passed  but  few  habita- 
tions and  they  were  up  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  The  rain 
continued  pouring  in  torrents  all  the  day,  rendering  our  pro- 
gress difficult,  yet  on  we  went.  The  morning  of  the  third  day 
we  arrived  at  Goose  Creek  about  two  miles  above  the  salt  works 
the  objective  point  of  our  journey.  We  found  the  creek  much 
swollen  from  the  recent  rains.  The  road  and  the  creek  ran 
down  between  the  ridges  together.  They  took  it  time  abouf  in 
crossing  each  other,  and  always  went  through  each  other.  In 
the  two  miles  we  had  to  go  down  this  creek,  we  had  to  wade  it 
seventeen  times.  At  each  crossing  we  lost  some  mud  we  gath- 
ered on  our  way.  We  loaded  our  wagons  with  two  hundred 
bushels  of  salt.  There  was  plenty  of  honey  here,  and  the  boys 
filled  themselves  with  honey  until  it  became  too  sweet  to  be 


REV.   DAVID  SULLINS. 

Brother  Sullins  was  born  in  McMimi  County,  Tenn.,  near  Athens,  in 
1827.  He  joined  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate  regiment  in  June, 
1861,  and  was  made  Chaplain  of  the  i-egiment,  which  place  he  filled  until  the 
re-organization  of  the  army  in  1862.  At  that  time  was  made  division  Chaplain 
and  division  Quarter-Master  of  Gen.  Breckenridge's  division,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years  or  longer. 


GOOSE  CREEK  SALT  WORKS.  15 

good.  So  sick  were  many  of  the  boys  that  they  cared  for 
neither  honey  nor  salt.  For  some  time  after,  just  to  speak  of 
honey  the  boys  would  gag. 

We  returned  to  camp,  after  being  gone  five  days,  tired  and 
almost  fagged  out ;  having  fulfilled  our  mission  for  which 
we  were  sent,  we  sat  down  in  camp  and  rested.  Mr.  White  who 
had  charge  of  the  salt  works,  had  a  fine  lot  of  ducks  and  geese. 
The  boys  had  killed  several  of  them,  and  Mr.  White  was  com 
plaining  to  John  Webster,  of  Company  K,  about  it.  Webster 
told  him  it  was  a  shame  and  he  would  see  that  the  men  were 
punished,  and  that  no  more  would  be  killed.  Just  then  a  duck 
he  had  concealed  under  his  coat  began  to  quack  and  he  at  once 
had  business  with  the  regiment,  and  the  old  man  returned  to 
the  house  none  the  less  pacified. 


CHAPTER  III. 

KOCK  CASTLE. 

WE  had  now  been  out  nearly  four  months  playing  the  roll  of 
soldier.  The  exhilarating  life  in  the  beginning  had  now 
somewhat  worn  away,  and  camp  life  had  become  a  mo- 
notonous routine  of  military  duties.  We  had  done  but  little  as 
yet,  but  from  indications  we  would  soon  enter  the  arena  of  war 
in  truth.  After  the  wire  edge  of  our  martial  chivalry  shall  have 
been  worn  away,  we  may  and  will  be  more  able  to  stand  the 
storm  of  battle.  While  we  lay  idle  in  Camp  Zollicoffer,  the 
Federals  concentrated  a  considerable  force  under  Gen.  Schoeff 
at  Rock  Castle,  or  Wild  Cat,  in  Kentucky.  The  Federal  Col. 
Garrard  had  three  regiments  there,  and  on  the  fifteenth  of  Octo- 
ber had  been  reinforced  by  Gen.  Schoeff  with  three  more,  and 
one  battery  of  artillery  and  one  battalion  of  cavalry.  The  morn- 
ing of  the  sixteenth  of  October  Gen.  Zollicoffer  with  his  entire 
force  moved  out  to  attack  this  force  at  Wild  Cat.  The  route 
through  the  mountains  was  rough  and  heavily  timbered,  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  was  between  precipitous  ridges  which 
rendered  our  march  hazardous.  To  retard  our  advance  the  en- 
emy had  fallen  trees  across  the  road  and  in  other  ways  had  ob- 
structed our  way.  We  did  not  reach  the  enemy  until  early  in 
the  morning  of  the  twentieth,  and  having  marched  and  worked 
all  the  night  before,  did  not  feel  like  attacking  the  enemy  in  his 
den  that  morning.  Gov.  A.  S.  Marks,  who  was  with  us  and  who 
commanded  a  company  in  the  Seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment 
says,  "The  hill  on  which  the  enemy  had  fortified  was  at  the  head 
of  a  gorge  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide.  This  fortified  hill 
commanded  the  road  over  Rock  Castle  hills.  The  day  before 
the  enemy  was  reached,  we  found  the  road  approaching  the  hills* 
and  miles  away  from  it,  obstructed  by  fallen  trees.  Men  were 
put  to  work  to  clear  away  the  obstruction.  We  were  not  allowed 
to  eat  or  sleep  until  the  enemy  was  reached  next  morning.  We 
moved  a  hundred  yards  at  a  time  as  the  fallen  trees  were  gotten 


ROCK   CASTLE.  17 

out  of  the  way.  When  the  hill  was  reached  the  road  was  found 
impassable  from  the  fallen  trees.  The  advance  was  through  the 
woods.  We  found  the  face  of  the  hill  a  precipitous  bluff,  with 
but  a  small  place  accessible.  My  company  only  could  find 
ground  to  ascend  which  we  did,  and  found  the  entrenchments 
of  the  enemy  but  sixty  yards  from  the  crest,  with  abatis  in 
front.  We  opened  fire,  which  was  briskly  returned.  My  com- 
pany filled  all  the  available  space,  so  we  could  not  be  reinforced 
and  we  were  recalled.  I  lost  in  my  company  six  killed,  and 
twenty  wounded.  Some  were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  other 
companies.  No  other  attempt  was  made  to  assault  anywhere 
else." 

Col.  Newman's  regiment  was  the  only  one  engaged,  and  his 
loss  in  all  was  eleven  killed,  and  tweuty-seven  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  was  but  five  killed  and  eleven  wounded.  Zol- 
licoffer  returned  to  camp  at  Cumberland  Ford,  and  after  a  few 
days'  rest  he  began  an  evacuation  of  this  part  of  Kentucky. 
October  the  thirtieth  we  bid  adieu  to  Camp  Zollicoffer.  Mov- 
ing out  early  in  the  morning  we  headed  for  the  Gap,  through 
which  we  passed  and  tnrned  down  the  mountain  toward  Jacks- 
boro,  Tennessee.  Two  regiments,  Col.  Rains'  (Eleventh  Ten- 
nessee), and  Col.  Newman's  (Seventeenth  Tennessee),  were 
left  at  the  Gap  to  hold  it  against  occupation  by  the  enemy. 

We  reached  Jacksboro  November  the  fourth  where  we  re- 
mained a  few  days  blockading  the  passes  along  the  mountain. 
At  this  place  unfavorable  indications  began  to  show  regarding 
the  future  usefulness  of  our  young  -brass  band.  Col.  Cummings 
ordered  all  the  men  belonging  to  the  band,  (except  the  old  field 
band),  to  carry  their  guns;  this,  the  men  did  not  feel  like  doing, 
carry  their  guns  and  horns. 

So,  on  the  morning  of  our  leaving  Jacksboro,  we  stacked 
our  horns  and  left  them.  This  was  the  demise  of  our  brass 
band.  The  regiment  fell  back  on  the  old  field  band,  which  she 
never  abandoned,  nor  did  the  little  faithful  band  ever  prove 
truant  to  its  trust,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  regiment's  last 
roll-call,  this  same  faithful  field  band  called  them  into  line. 

Leaving  Jacksboro  we  passed  through  Wartburg  and  Mont- 
gomery, and  crossing  Little  Emory  river,  we  ascended  the  Cum- 
berland Mountains  again,  on  whose  top  we  traveled  for  thirty 
miles,  through  as  lonely  and  desolate  a  country  as  could  be 
found.  We  passed  a  residence  about  every  six  miles,  till  we 


18  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

reached  Jamestown,  the  county  site  of  Fentress  County,  a  small 
cluster  of  houses  in  a  rocky,  barren  country,  almost  destitute 
of  any  sign  of  life,  where  the  winds'  only  song  is  a  sad  requium 
of  starvation.  Leaving  the  mountain  just  beyond  Jamestown 
we  turned  our  course  northward,  and  the  second  day  we  entered 
the  valley  of  Monticello,  Kentucky,  beautiful  and  fertile.  We 
passed  through- the  town  of  Monticello,  December  the  2nd,  with 
colors  flying  and  jubilant  in  spirits,  moving  on  for  Mill  Springs 
on  the  Cumberland,  where  we  pitched  our  tents  the  evening  of 
the  second  day. 

After  reaching  Mill  Springs,  Gen.  Zollicoffer  wrote  to  Gen. 
A.  S.  Johnson  of  his  intention  to  cross  the  river  and  fortify  on 
the  opposite  side.  To  accomplish  this  he  built  two  flat  boats 
and  with  these  he  crossed  the  Cumberland  with  five  regiments 
of  infantry,  seven  companies  of  cavalry  and  four. pieces  of 
artillery. 

Moving  out  from  the  river  about  one  mile  on  an  elevation, 
he  fortified  his  position,  pitching  our  tent  in  a  beautiful  beech 
grove.  After  Zollicoffer  had  settled  down  in  his  uew  quarters 
he  received  two  dispatches  from  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnson,  and  in 
one  of  them  he  says,  "Mills  Springs  would  seem  to  answer  best 
all  the  demands  of  the  service,  and  from  this  point  you  may  be 
able  to  observe  the  river  .without  crossing."  But  before  these 
reached  Gen.  Zollicoffer,  he  had  crossed  the  river,  and  to  these 
dispatches  he  replied  as  follows : 

CAMP  BEECH  GROVE,  KY.,  December  10th,  1861. 
GEN.  JOHNSON — Your  two  dispatches  reached  me  late  last 
night.  I  infer  from  yours  that  I  should  not  have  crossed  the 
river.  But  it  is  now  too  late.  My  means  of  recrossing  the 
river  are  so  limited  I  could  hardly  accomplish  it  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy,  besides  winter  is  now  on  us. 

Yours, 

F.  K.  ZOLLICOFFER,  Brig.  Gen. 

It  was  said,  Gen.  Crittenden  sent  word  to  Gen.  Zollicoffer 
to  speedily  recross  the  river;  but  be  that  as  it  may,  when  Gen. 
Crittenden  came  he  found  Gen.  Zollicoffer  still  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  behind  breast  works  and  comfortably  fixed  in 
log  cabins  for  the  winter,  which  now  had  set  in,  in  earnest. 

Our  regiment  occupied  a  position  on  the  line  of  works  on 
the  extreme  right,  on  a  high  bluff  overlooking  the  river  above. 
We  were  in  a  bend  of  the  river,  and  our  line  of  work  extended 


BOCK   CASTLE.  19 

from  the  river  above  nearly  to  the  river  below.  We  had  not 
had  any  kind  of  drill  since  we  left  Cumberland  Gap,  and  as  for 
brigade  drill,  such  a  thing  had  not  been  done.  Here  we  were 
too  busy  building  breastworks  and  quarters  to  think  of  drilling. 

Just  now  a  peep  into  our  inner  life  as  soldiers,  shows  that 
in  our  short  outing  as  such,  the  morals  of  the  men  had  degen- 
erated. Strange,  how  quickly  men  from  under  the  influence  of 
home  and  mother,  loose  sight  of  the  good  and  with  what  tenac- 
ity they  take  hold  of  the  bad,  and,  too,  right  in  the  face  of  dan- 
ger. Our  army  tactics,  like  that  of  the  mariner's  when  off 
sounding,  knew  no  Sunday,  only  as  a  day  of  extra  duty.  Since 
our  crossing  the  Cumberland  river,  the  Federals  had  concen- 
trated under  Gen.  Schoeff  at  Summerset  several  regiments  of 
infantry,  some  cavalry  and  artillery.  And  under  Gen.  Thomas 
at  Lebanon  sixteen  regiments  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery. 
Our  cavalry  were  now  at  the  front  all  the  time,  and  every  now 
and  then  would  have  a  spat  with  the  enemy.  On  the  eighth  of 
January  our  cavalry  brought  into  camp  fifteen  or  sixteen  priso- 
ners, among  whom  were  Maj.  Helveti,  and  Capt.  Prime,  both 
of  the  engineering  corps.  It  was  reported  that  a  regiment  of 
infantry  was  encamped  on  the  creek  not  far  from  the  river,  nor 
very  far  from  our  encampment.  So,  the  morning  of  the  tenth 
the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  was  sent  out  to  see  after  them.  We 
left  camp  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  was  very 
dark,  and  a  cold,  drizzling  rain  falling  and  very  muddy.  As 
we  drew  hear  the  supposed  camp  of  the  enemy  our  movements 
were  at  a  snail's  gait,  so  slow  we  could  not  keep  up  sufficient 
circulation  to  keep  warm,  and  freeze  we  thought  we  would. 
We  moved  on  so  cautiously,  we  were  not  allowed  to  step  so  as 
to  make  a  noise.  Our  feet  were  so  numbed  with  cold  we  could 
not  stand  on  one  foot,  and  to  move  was  painful.  They  felt  as 
if  a  thousand  needles  were  sticking  them.  At  daylight  we 
reached  the  creek,  but  found  no  trace  of  the  enemy.  We 
must  cross  the  creek  and  the  only  way  was  to  wade.  How 
could  we,  this  bitter  cold  morning  and  almost  frozen,  but  there 
was  no  alternative.  So,  after  disrobing  partly,  in  we  went  and 
the  cold  water,  as  it  crept  up  our  legs,  seemed  full  of  needles 
pricking  them.  This  cold  wade  proved  to  be  the  very  thing  for 
us,  after  getting  out,  reaction  set  in  and  soon  we  were  warm 
and  comfortable.  We  returned  to  camp  with  only  a  fisherman's 
luck. 


20  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

January  the  fifteenth  Maj.  Gen.  Geo.  B.  Crittenden  with 
Brig.  Gen.  Carroll's  brigade  composed  of  the  following  regi- 
ments, viz:  Col.  Newman's  17th  Tennessee,  Col.  Stanton's  25th 
Tennessee,  Col.  Murray's  28th  Tennessee,  Col.  Powell's  29th 
Tennessee,  Col.  White's  27th  Tennessee,  Col.  Wood's  16th  Ala- 
bama, McClung's  battery  of  two  guns,  and  Col.  Branner's  and 
Col.  McClelland's  battalions  of  cavalry  arrived.  Col.  Mose 
White  with  his  regiment  remained  at  Mill  Springs  and  did  not 
cross  the  river.  Gen.  Thomas  at  this  time  had  joined  Gen. 
Schoeff  at  Somerset,  with  his  eight  thousand  infantry,  cavalry 
and  artillery.  The  combined  force  of  the  enemy  now  was  twelve 
regiments  of  infantry,  two  regiments  of  cavalry  and  four  bat- 
teries. He  began  an  advanced  movement  on  our  forces  on  the 
17th  of  January.  For  several  days  previous  the  rains  had 
been  heavy  land  incessant  and  the  streams  were  all  swollen. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  Fishing  Creek  when  Thomas  reached 
it,  compelling  him  to  remain  on  his  side  of  the  creek  until  the 
evening  of  the  18th  when  he  crossed  a  part  of  his  men.  Fri- 
day night  of  the  17th  Gen.  Crittenden  called  a  council  of  war, 
composed  of  the  brigades  and  regimental  commanders  and  cap- 
tains of  batteries,  to  consider  the  best  thing  to  do;  whether  to 
attack  Thomas  before  he  could  cross  all  his  forces  over  the  now 
swollen  creek,  or  wait  for  him  to  attack  us  in  our  entrench- 
ments. The  result  of  the  council  was  to  move  on  the  enemy 
at  the  earliest  moment  possible. 

It  was  said  in  camp,  the  next  morning,  Gen.  Zollicoffer  and 
Col.  Cummings  opposed  the  advance  and  the  attack.  All  day 
Saturday  the  men  were  busy  inspecting  their  arms  and  getting 
everything  ready  for  the  attack.  Fishing  Creek  runs  nearly 
south  and  empties  into  the  Cumberland  river  about  six  miles 
above  Mill  Springs.  The  crossing  was  on  the  road  leading  from 
Somerset  to  Mill  Springs,  and  about  ten  miles  from  our  encamp- 
ment. On  our  side  of  the  creek  is  a  low  bottom  land  for  some 
distance.  For  two  or  three  hundred  yards  out  from  the  creek 
was  heavily  timbered,  and  from  this  to  the  top  of  the  ridge  was 
cleared  and  under  cultivation,  and  was  about  three  hundred 
yards  wide,  the  public  road  dividing  it  into  two  large  fields. 

On  the  west  side  and  near  the  foot  of  the  ridge  stood  a  log 
cabin  which  was  used  as  a  field  hospital.  Saturday  at  mid- 
night the  army  was  put  in  motion.  The  night  was  dark  and  cold, 
and  the  bitter  winds  drove  the  sleet  and  rain  in  our  faces,  yet 


ROCK   CASTLE.  21 

on  we  went,  plodding  in  the  gloom  and  mud  to  the  front  and  to 
battle.  The  order  of  the  march  was  as  follows: 

FIRST  BRIGADE — BRIG.  GEN.  ZOLLICOFFER. 

Fifteenth  Mississippi,   Colonel  W.  S.  Statham. 
Nineteenth  Tennesse,  Colonel  Cummings. 
Twentieth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Battle. 
Twenty-fifth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Stanton. 
Rutledge's  Artillery. 

SECOND  BRIGADE — BRIG.  GEN.  CARROLL. 

Seventeenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Newman. 

Twenty-eighth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Murray. 

Twenty-ninth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Powell. 

Sixteenth  Alabama,  Colonel  Wood. 

McClung's  Battery. 

Of  cavalry  there  were  Bledsaw's,  Sander's,  Branner's  and 
McClelland's.  Bledsaw's  and  Sander's  battalions  were  in  front 
of  Zollicoffer,  the  other  two  battalions  were  behind  Carroll's 
brigade. 

Sunday  morning  at  daylight  the  cavalry  ran  upon  the  ene- 
my's pickets  one  and  a  half  miles  out  in  their  front.  A  few 
shots  were  exchanged  and  the  enemy  slowly  fell  back  to  his 
main  line.  Our  cavalry  did  not  push  them.  The  15th  Missis- 
sippi took  the  front,  closely  followed  by  the  19th  Tennessee. 
Soon  we  encountered  their  main  picket  line  at  the  foot  of  the 
ridge,  which  as  we  approached  fell  back  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 
We  formed  line  of  battle  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge.  The  balls 
began  passing  over  our  heads  pretty  fast  with  a  zip,  zip,  but 
they  did  not  seem  to  be  doing  any  harm  for  they  were  two  hun- 
dred yards  away  on  the  hill  above  us.  The  15th  Mississippi 
formed  on  the  right  of  the  road,  with  the  20th  Tennessee,  Col. 
Battle  joining  them  also  on  the  right.  These  two  regiments 
formed  the  right  wing  of  our  line  of  battle. 

The  19th  Tennessee  fell  into  line  facing  the  front  just  on 
the  left  and  touching  the  road,  while  the  25th  Tennessee  formed 
to  our  left  and  just  a  little  in  our  rear.  Gen.  Carroll  had  not 
yet  come  up  and  had  not  formed  line  of  battle.  For  our  regi- 
ment to  get  into  position  we  had  to  file  through  an  old  persim- 
mon thicket,  and  as  we  entered  it  Col.  Cummings  said  to  me, 
"We  will  hang  our  overcoat,  blanket  and  haversacks  on  this 
bush"  (a  large  persimmon  we  were  just  passing,)  "and  we  will 


22  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

get  them  on  our  return."  We  did  so,  but  neither  of  us  ever 
saw  them  again.  Getting  into  line  we  moved  up  the  hill  to  the 
left  of  the  road,  and  firing  on  the  enemy  who  retired  over  and 
beyond  the  top  of  the  ridge.  By  the  time  we  reached  the  sum- 
mit, the  firing  was  getting  pretty  brisk. 

The  15th  Mississippi  first  opened  the  battle,  engaging  the 
12th  Kentucky,  then  Battle  opened  on  the  enemy.  The  19th 
Tennessee  encountered  first  the  10th  Indiana,  about  half  way 
between  the  top  of  the  ridge  and  the  woods  and  the  bottom. 
We  charged  at  a  double  quick,  closely  followed  by  the  25th  Ten- 
nessee, and  drove  the  enemy  under  shelter  of  the  woods.  The 
15th  Mississippi  and  the  20th  Tennessee  by  this  time  had  also 
driven  the  enemy  from  the  top  of  the  ridge  into  the  woods 
below,  thus  forcing  the  whole  Federal  line  from  the  clearing 
into  the  woods  on  the  creek.  The  rain  continued  falling,  some- 
times in  heavy  showers. 

Many  of  the  men  had  the  old  flintlock  guns  which  were,  in 
this  rain,  utterly  useless.  The  writer  saw  two  or  three  of  the 
boys  break  their  guns  over  the  fence,  after  several  attempts  to 
fire  them. 

Rutledge's  battery  was  planted  on  the  hill  just  to  the  right 
of  the  road,  and  opened  with  two  or  three  shots  only.  Our  own 
men  being  in  danger  of  his  shots  he  fired  no  more.  While  in 
this  position  Capt.  Rutledge  had  his  horse  killed  under  him  by 
a  cannon  shot  from  the  enemy's  gun.  Gen.  Carroll  formed  his 
brigade  just  under  cover  of  the  ridge  and  awaited  orders.  The 
morning  was  dark,  the  smoke  from  the  guns  was  beaten  back 
by  the  rain,  and  settling  on  the  ground  increased  the  gloom. 
By  this  time  time  the  19th  Tennessee  was  in  the  edge  of  the 
woods  to  which  point  we  had  driven  the  10th  Indiana.  The  4th 
Kentucky  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Fry,  came  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  10th  Indiana  and  was  not  more  than  thirty  or  forty 
yards  in  our  front.  Unfortunately,  Gen.  Zollicoffer,  owing  to 
the  darkness  of  the  morning,  mistook  the  4th  Kentucky  regi- 
ment for  one  of  his  own,  and  passing  through  our  regiment  he 
rode  up  to  that  of  the  enemy  and  said  to  Col.  Fry,  "We  must 
not  fire  on  our  friends,"  to  which  Col.  Fry  replied,  "I  will  not 
if  I  know  it."  Just  then  Maj.  Fogg,  of  Gen.  Zollicoffer's  staff, 
discovered  they  were  Federals  and  fired  at  Col.  Fry  hitting  his 
horse.  Immediately  a  shot  from  the  head  of  Fry's  regiment 
hit  Gen.  Zollicoffer  in  the  chest  killing  him  instantly. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  F.  K.  ZOLLICOFFER. 

General  Zollicoffer  was  born  in  Columbia,  Tenn.,  May  19th,  1812.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  war  between  the  States,  F.  K.  Zollicoffer  was  made  a  Briga- 
dier-General and  assigned  to  duty  in  East  Tennessee  in  May,  1861.  General 
Zollicoffer  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Fishing  Creek,  January  19th,  1862.  He 
was  a  brave  soldier,  generous  and  kind,  and  loved  by  all  his  command. 


ROCK  CASTLE.  23 

Col.  Cummings  had  been  ordered  by  Gen.  Zollicoffer  as  he 
passed  by  our  regiment  to  cease  firing,  which  they  did,  and  all 
this  time  our  regiment  was  receiving  a  galling  fire  from  the  4th 
Kentucky  regiment  without  returning  it,  and  in  this  confusion 
the  regiment  fell  back  a  short  distance  in  some  disorder.  The 
enemy  pressed  forward,  capturing  the  body  of  Gren.  Zollicoffer 
and  also  that  of  Lieut.  Baily  Peyton,  who  was  killed  at  the 
same  time. 

Lieut.  Peyton  was  one  of  Zollicoffer's  staff.  The  25th  Ten- 
nessee came  to  our  relief  and  we  checked  for  the  time  any  fur- 
ther advance  of  the  enemy.  Here  Col.  Cummings  took  charge 
of  the  brigade  and  Lieut.  Col.  Walker  took  command  of  the 
regiment.  The  9th  Ohio  reinforced  the  10th  Indiana  and  the 
4th  Kentucky  and  drove  our  two  regiments  out  of  the  woods, 
back  some  distance,  where  Col.  Stanton,  of  the  25th  Tennessee, 
fell  severely  wounded.  The  28th  Tennessee,  came  to  our  help, 
and  we  charged  the  enemy  driving  them  back  but  a  short  dis- 
tance, where  we  took  shelter  behind  an  old  fence  and  kept  up  a 
heavy  fire  for  some  time.  The  roar  of  musketry  and  cannon 
seemed  to  us  a  considerable  battle.  The  enemy  again  rein- 
forced their  right  and  began  a  flank  movement,  and  forced  our 
entire  left  wing  to  the  top  of  the  ridge.  Wood's  16th  Alabama 
and  Powell's  29th  Tennessee  coming  in  were  unable  to  check 
the  now  advancing  foe.  The  whole  line  now  gave  way  and  left 
the  field  in  wild  confusion  and  disorder.  As  we  went  into  the 
battle,  and  after  having  driven  the  Federals  from  the  open  field 
the  writer  picked  up  a  Yankee  overcoat  and  put  it  on  for  the 
rain  was  cold  and  falling  fast.  When  nearly  to  the  woods,  we 
came  upon  one  of  our  boys  so  badly  wounded,  who  even  with 
our  help,  could  go  no  farther,  we  spread  our  Yankee  overcoat 
on  the  wet  ground  and  our  wounded  comrade  lay  down  upon  it 
to  die.  The  wounded  were  taken  from  the  field  as  fast  as  could 
be  done,  some  left  at  the  field  hospital,  others  were  taken  on  to 
camp  and  from  there  to  Monticello.  The  last  one  we  helped 
on  this  sad  morning  was  Charlie  Clemenson,  of  Company  E, 
19th  Tennessee,  who  fell  mortally  wounded  about  half  way  up 
the  ridge  after  we  had  been  driven  from  the  woods.  Pink  Hen- 
derson, Clabe  Perry  and  the  writer  carried  Charlie  from  the 
field  on  a  blanket.  We  had  just  reached  the  yard  of  the  log 
cabin  on  the  hill  side  where  our  hospital  was  located."  Our  men 
were  now  hurrying  by  as  rapidly  as  they  could,  the  road  and 


24  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

woods  were  full,  all  in  hot  haste  to  be  gone.  Wood's  Alabama 
regiment  was  trying  to  make  some  show  of  resistance  but  was 
as  powerless  as  straw  in  the  wind.  As  the  Federals  began 
descending  the  hill,  and  before  reaching  the  field  hospital,  we- 
having  done  all  we  could,  retired  in  as  good  order  and  as  quickly 
as  we  could. 

Poor  Charley  was  dying  when  we  laid  him  down.  We  can 
never  forget  the  sad  anxious  expression  of  his  face,  as  we  left 
him  in  the  last  sad  trial  of  the  battle  of  life,  dying  alone, 
deserted  by  all,  whom  he  thought  were  friends,  left  on  the 
cold  ground  with  naught  but  the  cold  rain  to  wash  the  sweat  of 
death  from  his  brow.  Charley,  we  hope 

"The  blood  that  flowed  from  your  noble  heart 
On  the  spot  where  you  nobly  perished, 
Was  drank  by  the  earth  as  a  sacrament 
In  the  holy  cause  you  cherished.'1 

The  battle  fought  and  lost,  we  made  our  way  to  camp  in 
the  bend  of  the  river  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy,  and  by  3 
p.  m.  they  began  shelling  our  encampment.  They  planted  a 
battery  just  above  us,  on  a  hill  in  full  command  of  the  river  and 
of  our  works.  Our  guns  replied  from  one  or  two  batteries  and 
at  short  intervals  the  two  armies  kept  shelling  during  the 
entire  evening. 

We  are  sorry  we  cannot  give  the  names  of  all  who  were 
wounded  in  our  regiment.  We  give  the  names  of  all  who  were 
killed,  but  cannot  of  the  wounded  and  missing.  John  L.  Rhea, 
had  two  or  three  balls  pass  through  his  clothing,  but  escaped 
unhurt. 

KILLED. 

William  Dunlap,      Co.  A.  Sergt.  Middleton,    Co.  H. 

Lieut.  J.  Conley,  B.  Isaac  Carmack,         "    I. 

Jos.  Smith,  "     D.  Leander  Welch,         "     " 

Charlie  Clemenson    "    E.  Josiah  Woodall, 

Lieut.  J.  Carleton,    '      G.  Carroll  Carmack,       "    K. 

WOUNDED. 

James  Powers,  Company  A;  Abner  Vernon,  Martin  Harr, 
James  Webb,  Lafayette  Baker,  of  Company  C;  James  Camp 
bell,  R.  P.  Sharp,  David  Roller,  of  Company  D;  Billie  Vestal, 
Company  E;  Sam  Cox,  Company  G;  S.  G.  Edgeman,  Com- 
pany H;  Andrew  G.Johnson,-  -  Moneyham,  -  -Marshall, 
of  Company  K. 


26  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

CAPTUEED. 

Lafayette  Baker,  John  Baker,  Abner  Vernon,  of  Company 
C;  John  White,  R.  C.  Crozier,  of  Company  E. 

DIED. 

Lieut.  G.  W.  Hull,  John  Jordan,  W.  H.  Barger,  George 
Graham,  Martin  Harr,  James  Webb,  of  Company  C,  and  David 
Roller,  of  Company  D. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Delaney,  our  surgeon,  remained  with  our  wounded 
on  the  field  and  was  captured.  Our  loss  in  the  aggregate  in  the 
engagement  was : 

REGIMENT.  KILLED.  WOUNDED.  CAPTURED. 

15th  Mississippi,  44  153  29 

16th  Alabama,  9  5  12 

17th  Tennessee,  11  25  2 

19th           "  11  22  3 

20th           "  33  59  18 

25th          ."  10  28  17 
28th           "345 

29th           "  5  12  10 


Total,  126  308  96 

Martin  Harr,  Lafayette  Baker  and  James  Webb  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Monticello  from  wounds  received  in  battle.  Lieut. 
G.  W.  Hull,  John  Jordan  and  W.  H.  Barger  died  in  camp  before 
the  battle  came  off.  This  was  our  first  engagement  with  the 
enemy  that  amounted  to  anything,  while  they  were  no  better  off 
in  point  of  experience  than  we,  they  were  decidedly  so,  as  to 
arms  and  numbers.  They  were  no  doubt  better  drilled  than  we 
were. 

Our  brigade  was  never  drilled  or  put  in  line  of  battle  by 
any  one  until  the  morning  of  the  memorable  battle  of  Fishing 
Creek.  To  these  causes  partly  may  be  attributed  our  defeat. 
For  we  know  that  no  more  patriotic  and  courageous  blood  ever 
coursed  through  the  veins  of  any  men  than  flowed  through 
those  of  Zollicoffer's  brigade.  They  were  willing  and  ready, 
but  not  prepared  to  meet  more  than  their  equal. 

General  Zollicoffer  was  loved  by  his  entire  command,  offi- 
cers and  men.  Generous  and  kind,  was  always  looking  to  the 
welfare  and  interest  of  his  men.  Military  in  appearance,  he 
commanded  attention  and  respect  wherever  he  went.  Prior  to 


EOCK   CASTLE.  27 

the  war,  his  life  and  work,  trend  of  thought  -were  opposed  to 
that  of  war,  while  peace  and  quiet  were  a  more  genial  atmos- 
phere for  his  heart  and  soul. 

But  a  few  days  before  the  battle  of  Fishing  Creek,  the 
steamer,  "Noble  Ellis,"  came  up  from  Nashville  with  provis- 
ions and  clothing  for  the  men,  and  had  not  yet  returned.  Her 
presence  was  our  salvation.  During  the  evening  all  the  men 
were  in  the  ditches,  and  remained  until  dark,  when  a  detail  was 
left  to  be  on  the  lookout  and  the  rest  of  the  men  returned  to 
their  cabins  to  prepare  meals,  for  we  had  not  eaten  anything 
since  the  evening  before ;  we  had  plenty  to  cook.  My  mess  had 
supper  ready,  hot  coffee,  hot  biscuit,  meat,  &c.,  all  spread  upon 
a  rudely  constructed  table,  in  our  comfortable  quarters. 

We  were  hungry,  and  were  just  preparing  to  satisfy  our 
appetites,  when  orders  came  ringing  down  the  line  of  cabins, 
"Fall  in  line  quickly  and  quietly  as  possible,  leave  everything 
but  guns  and  accoutrements,  clothing,  knapsacks,  haversacks, 
canteens,  blankets,  leave  all  in  camps."  We  came  pouring  out 
of  our  huts,  those  who  had  eaten  feeling  well,  but  many  had 
not,  of  which  number  was  our  mess. 

How  we  did  hate  to  leave  that  hot  steaming  coffee  and  bis- 
cuit. We  could  not  refrain  from  casting  one  long  begrudging 
look  at  the  table  as  we  filed  out  into  the  dark  to  go  whither  we 
knew  not.  After  we  had  left  camp  and  had  gotten  to  the  river* 
the  realization  of  our  misfortune  came  crashing  upon  the  heart 
like  an  avalanche.  We  were  retreating.  While  on  the  river 
bank,  waiting  in  the  cold  and  dark,  we  could  but  think  of  our 
straw  beds  in  the  cabin,  and  the  warm  fire  we  left  burning. 

We  are  on  the  river  bank  in  one  compact  mass  of  excited 
and  confused  humanity.  Thousands  were  crowded  there  wait- 
ing, each  his  turn  to  get  on  the  Noble  Ellis  as  she  crossed  and 
recrossed  the  river.  The  enemy  just  a  little  over  a  mile  behind, 
who,  from  their  battery  above  us  on  the  hill,  kept  constantly 
shelling  the  boat  as  she  crossed  back  and  forth  with  her  excited 
fugitive  loads.  The  cavalrymen  were  whooping  and  hallowing 
to  drive  their  horses  into  the  river  to  swim  them  over.  But 
very  few  of  the  horses  ever  crossed,  many  of  them,  perhaps, 
were  drowned,  but  the  greater  part  of  them  remained  and  were 
captured.  Here  were  artillerymen  without  .artillery,  teamsters 
without  their  teams  and  cavalrymen  afoot.  What  a  racket  and 
confusion  reigned  here,  and  right  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  A 


28  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

hundred  men  could  have  captured  General  Crittenden's  whole 
army.  If  one  gun  had  been  fired  just  behind  us  hundreds  doubt- 
less would  have  been  pushed  into  the  river.  At  last  we  were  all 
over,  landing  the  last  load  at  daybreak.  From  the  Mill  Spring  side 
of  the  river  we  could  see  our  encampment  plainly.  And  not 
before  sun  up  did  the  enemy  begin  an  approach  to  our  works, 
nor  until  after  they  saw  the  smoke  and  flame  rising  from  the 
burning  boat.  As  the  Noble  Ellis  went  up  in  the  smoke  we 
could  but  feel  sad,  for  she  had  remained  and  rescued  us  but  lost 
her  own  existence.  (Gen.  Thomas  became  a  deservedly  distin- 
guished Federal  general  in  the  after  days  of  the  war,  but  he 
certainly  showed  little  generalship  on  this  occasion.  He  could 
and  ought  to  have  captured  the  whole  Confederate  force. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THROUGH   THE   WILDERNESS. 

JANUARY  20th  we  took  our  last  farewell  look  of  Beech  Grove 
and  Mill  Springs.  We  turned  our  faces  sadly  and  sorrow- 
•J  fully  southward,  and  beheld  in  the  distance  a  long  jour- 
ney, hitherto  unparalleled,  through  a  rough  barren  and  un- 
friendly country.  We  needed  sympathy  but  received  none, 
save  that  from  the  heavens,  which  looking  down  upon  our  for- 
lorn condition  poured  out  upon  us  in  heavy  showers  her  sympa- 
thetic tears,  but  they  did  not  make  us  feel  any  the  more  com- 
fortable. Through  all  the  day  long  the  rain  continued  to  fall, 
when  late  in  the  evening  we  passed  through  Monticello  wet, 
muddy  and  tired,  not  only  in  body  but  in  mind.  We  presented 
an  appearance  to  excite  pity  rather  than  applause.  One  mile 
beyond  the  town  we  sat  down  to  rest  for  the  night.  We  did  not 
pitch  our  tent  for  we  had  none,  neither  had  we  blankets  to 
spread  upon  the  cold,  wet  ground  upon  which  to  lie,  and  with 
naught  but  the  leaky  clouds  for  a  covering.  Having  had  noth- 
ing to'  eat  all  day  long,  we  lay  down  with  empty  stomachs  to 
dream  of  the  plenty  we  had  left  in  camp.  The  next  morning 
wo  had  issued  to  us  an  ear  of  corn  to  each  man  (as  if  we  were 
horses)  to  parch  for  breakfast.  After  building  our  fires,  which 
were  very  poor  for  want  of  wood,  and  what  we  had  was  wet  and 
sobby,  we  parched  our  corn  in  the  ashes  and  ate  it,  then  started 
on  our  march.  The  long  gloomy  road  this  morning  stretched 
itself  out  to  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  before  we  could  see  any 
visible  signs  of  provisions  or  comforts  of  camp  life.  So  all 
day  Tuesday  we  plodded  our  weary  way,  and  passed  every  now 
and  then,  country  homes  where  there  seemed  to  be  plenty,  but 
we  were  none  the  better  off.  Night  came  again  to  rest  our 
weary  limbs  and  sore  feet,  but  nothing  came  to  satisfy  our  now 
keen  appetites,  except  a  small  piece  of  beef  yet  warm  from  the 
slaughter,  no  salt,  nothing  else.  As  for  ourselves  we  did  not  feel 
the  gnawiugs  of  hunger  as  much  as  we  did  in  the  morning. 


30  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

We  roasted  our  meat  by  the  fire  and  ate  it,  and  lay  down  on  the 
rocks  to  sleep.  The  next  morning  we  ate  the  remnants  left  from 
supper  and  started  on  our  third  day's  march;  at  the  end  of 
which  we  received  beef,  salt  and  meal.  We  knew  how  to  man- 
age the  beef,  but  how  about  the  meal?  We  had  nothing  to  put 
it  in,  nothing  in  which  to  bake  it.  The  meal  was  issued  to  us  in 
our  hats,  in  which  we  mixed  it  up,  and  baked  before  the  fire  on  flat 
rocks,  boards  or  anything  we  could  find.  Some  drew  flour,  mixed 
it  up  without  salt  or  lard,  rolled  it  out  in  strings,  size  of  a  pencil 
and  wound  it  around  our  ramrods  and  cooked  it  before  the  fire.  We 
ate  and  enjoyed  our  supper,  retired  for  the  night  feeling  better 
and  thankful.  Who  knows  what  they  can  endure  until  they  are 
put  to  the  test.  The  next  morning  we  moved  out  again  feeling 
weary  and  worn,  for  this  journey  through  the  wilderness  was  a 
rough  and  a  tiresome  one.  We  reached  Gainesboro,  on  the 
Cumberland,  January  27th,  where  we  were  met  by  a  steamer 
from  Nashville  loaded  with  clothing,  provisions  and  tents.  We 
remained  here  «,bout  ten  days  resting.  We  needed  rest  for  our 
bodies  and  rest  for  our  minds.  After  crossing  the  river  at  Mill 
Springs  many  of  the  men  whose  homes  were  in  East  Tennessee 
left  us  and  went  directly  to  them,  but  returned  to  their  respec- 
tive regiments  after  a  few  days'  stay  at  home.  This  made  our 
army  small  when  we  reached  Gainesboro,  from  which  place  we 
moved  down  the  river  to  opposite  Carthage,  where  we  camped 
for  a  while.  Here  we  had  inspection  and  drill.  We  who  remained 
with  the  army  felt  anxious  to  hear  from  home,  and  to  let  them 
know  we  were  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living.  The  same  feeling 
now  was  filling  each  breast  that  swelled  the  heart  of  him  who 
wrote, 

"Away  from  home,  how  welcome  then 
Glad  tidings  from  afar, 
That  tells  of  friends  forever  dear, 
No  matter  where  we  are." 

Our  disheartened  and  drooping  spirits  were  now  beginning 
to  revive.  The  runaways,  as  we  called  them,  were  beginning 
to  return,  and  we  sang: 

"He  who  fights  and  runs  away, 
Lives  to  fight  another  day." 

We  picked  up  courage  and  our  tents,  and  leaving  Carthage 
we  headed  for  Lebanon,  Tennessee.  As  we  drew  near  Leba- 
non we  could  see  plainly  the  difference  in  the  responsive  sym- 
pathy of  the  people.  We  began  to  receive  encouragement  and 


COLUMBUS   C.   ETTER. 

Comrade  C.  C.  Etter  \yas  born  at  Mooresburg,  Tenn.,  October  22nd, 
1836,  where  he  lived  until  May,  1861,  when  he  joined  Company  K  of  the 
Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate  regiment.  Comrade  Etter  was  a  faithful 
good  soldier,  and  gave  up  his  life  early  in  the  battle  of  his  country's  cause. 
Was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April,  1862. 


THROUGH    THE    WILDERNESS.  31 

greeting  by  the  wayside,  for  they  were  in  full  knowledge  of  our 
retreat  from  Fishing  Creek.  Grandmothers,  mothers  and  sis- 
ters came  out  and  greeted  us,  giving  us  their  blessings  to  cheer 
us  on  our  way.  No  doubt  they  had  sons,  husbands  and  broth- 
ers somewhere  in  the  Confederate  army,  perhaps  some  were 
with  us.  We  passed  through  Lebanon  February  16th,  and  there 
we  learned  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  that  Gen.  Albert 
Sidney  Johnson  was  then  in  Nashville,  on  his  way  south  with 
his  army,  and  with  whom  we  would  unite  at  Murfreesboro. 
Our  political  firmament  began  to  look  dark  and  dreary,  but  we 
took  hold  of  this  consolation, 

"There  is  no  day  but  has  its  share  of  light 
And  some  where  in  the  dark,  there  shines  a  star  at  night, 
And  there's  no  cloud,  however  black  and  grim, 
That  does  not  touch  the  sun  light  with  its  outer  rim." 

We  were  told  the  darkest  hour  of  night  is  just  before  the 
dawn  of  day,  and  soon — 

The  sun  would  shine  the  brighter 
When  the  clouds  had  rolled  away. 

With  this  stimulant  of  hope  we  received  new  courage  and 
looked  forward  for  a  better  and  brighter  day  coming.  Leaving 
Lebanon  we  turned  our  course  toward 

MURFREESBORO, 

where  we  met  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnson,  from  Bowling,  Ky.,  with  his 
own  men,  and  with  what  troops  escaped  from  Fort  Douelson. 
While  we  were  here  all  the  men  who  had  left  us  after  the  Fish- 
ing Creek  fight,  came  back  to  their  respective  commands,  and  of 
all  who  came  to  us  here,  none  surprised  us  more  than  Billie  Ves- 
tal, whom  we  left  in  Monticello,  Ky.,  as  we  supposed  mortally 
wounded.  He  was  shot  through  the  bowels,  the  ball  entering 
an  inch  to  the  right  of  the  umbelicus,  and  coming  out  just  to 
the  right  of  and  missing  the  spine.  He  was  so  very  weak  he 
could  hardly  walk.  He  had  slipped  away  from  the  Federal  hos- 
pital and  made  for  his  command.  All  the  sick  of  Zollicoffer's 
and  Carroll's  brigades  had  reported  for  duty.  W.  S.  Statham, 
colonel  of  the  15th  Mississippi,  who  had  been  absent  for  some 
time,  returned  and  took  command  of  Zollicoffer's  brigade,  which 
was  known  after  this  as  Statham' s  brigade. 

The  union  of  Johnson's  and  Crittenden's  forces,  now  made 
one  of  the  largest  armies  that  had  yet  been  brought  together  in 
Tennessee.  The  large  number  of  troops  now  together  seemed 


THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 


to  infuse  new  life  and  vigor  into  all,  and  made  them  feel  like 
trying  their  hand  with  the  enemy  again.  Here  Gen.  Johnson 
organized  the  army  into  brigades  and  divisions.  He  made  three 
divisions  and  seven  brigades,  with  thirty-five  regiments  of  in- 
fantry, besides  the  artillery  and  cavalry.  The  organization 
was  as  follows: 

ALBERT  SIDNEY  JOHNSON,  GENERAL. 

FIRST  DIVISION. 
MAJ.  GEN.  J.  W.  HARDEE. 

BRIGADES. 

Brig.  Gen.  Hindman— Five  regiments. 
Brig.  Gen.  Pat  Cleburne— Five  regiments. 

SECOND   DIVISION. 
MAJ.   GEN.    GEO.   B.  CRITTENDEN. 


Brig.  Gen.  Carroll. 


BRIGADES. 

Col.  W.  S.  Statham. 


17th  Tenn.,  Col.  Newman.  15th  Miss.,  Lieut.  Col. 


25th 
19th 
37th 


Stanton.  22nd 

Powell.  19th  Tenn.. 

White.  20th      " 

28th      " 
45th      " 

THIRD  DIVISION. 
BRIG.    GEN.  PILLOW. 


Col.  Scheller. 

Cummings. 
"    Battle. 
Murray. 

"     Lytle. 


BRIGADES. 

Brig.  Gen.  Woods— Five  regiments. 
Brig.  Gen.  Bo  wen — Five  regiments. 
Brig.  Gen.  Breckenridge — Five  regiments. 
Artillery — Twelve  batteries. 
Cavalry— Seven  regiments,  five  battalions. 

The  sad  news  of  the  disaster  at  Fishing  Creek,  and  the 
fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  the  evacuation  of  Bowling  Green,  Ky 
spread  like  wildfire  over  all  the  South.  A  great  many  of  the 
newspapers  were  full  of  epithets  and  denunciations  of  the  direst 
kind  against  Gen.  Johnson.  The  situation  did  look  gloomy 
at  this  time,  and  the  newspaper  men  thought  perhaps  if  they 
had  been  at  the  front  things  would  have  gone  differently. 

They  had  forgotten  that  enduring  the  hardships  of  camp 


MURFBEESBOBO.  33 

life,  and  fighting  the  battles  at  the  front  were  much  more  diffi- 
cult than  sitting  around  the  comfortable  fiireside  and  fighting 
them  on  paper.  Notwithstanding  the  tirade  of  abuse  heaped 
upon  Gen.  Johnson  by  the  press,  the  soldiers  who  were  at  the 
front  and  who  knew  Johnson,  loved  him.  They  did  not  cen- 
sure him,  nor  blame  any  one  for  the  sad  changes  in  affairs,  but 
had  the  utmost  confidence  in  him  as  their  leader. 

Often  those  who  censure  most  are  the  ones  who  do  noth- 
ing to  bring  about  that,  for  which  they  condemn  others  for  not 
doing. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HISTORIC   GROUND. 

GENERAL  JOHNSON  having  completed  his   organization 
of  the  army,  and  all  of  the  absentees  having  returned, 
began  preparation  for  a  grand  move  south. .  He  issued 
the  following  order : 

''HEADQUARTERS,  WESTERN  DEPT. 

MURFREESBORO,  TENN.,  Feb.  28tll,  1862. 

The  column  will  resume  the  march  to-morrow  morning,  and 
continue  from  day  to  day,  by  Shelbyville,  Fayetteville  and 
Decatur,  Alabama.  The  march  so  arranged  as  to  make  about 
fifteen  miles  a  day,  so  long  as  the  roads  permit. 

W.  W.  MACKALL, 
By  order  of  Gen.  Johnson.  Asst.  Adj.  Gen." 

So  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  we  moved  out  for  Murfrees- 
boro,  passed  on  through  Shelbyville  and  reached  Fayetteville 
March  the  4th,  and  crossing  Elk  river  we  pitched  our  tents  on 

HISTORIC   GROUND. 

Gen.  Jackson's  old  encampment  in  the  years  long  gone  by 
where  we  remained  for  several  days.  After  leaving  Fayette- 
ville, we  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  we  ascended  a  high 
ridge  on  which  we  traveled  as  far  as  Athens,  Ala.  This  ridge 
was  almost  barren  and  destitute  of  water.  The  evening  of  our 
first  encampment  on  this  ridge  we  encountered  a  regular  little 
cyclone  with  a  heavy  rain.  We  had  halted  in  a  strip  of  woods 
and  had  just  gotten  up  all  our  tents,  when  the  storm  came. 
The  wind  was  very  heavy — trees  were  broken  off  and  blown 
down,  and  limbs  were  strewed  here  and  there  in  our  camp.  Not 
a  single  tent  stood  the  storm.  They  were  all  blown  down,  and 
we  took  the  rain  holding  on  to  our  tents  to  keep  them  from 
blowing  away.  On  reaching  Athens  all  our  tents  and  camp 
equipage  were  sent  on  ahead  of  us,  for  what  purpose  we  knew 
not,  leaving  us  to  take  the  rains  which  were  falling  heavily  and 


HISTORIC    GROUND.  35 

had  been  for  two  or  three  days  past,  just  coming  down  in  tor- 
rents. Where  we  were  the  country  was  so  low  and  flat  that  it 
was  mostly  covered  with  water,  so  that  at  night  we  had  to  sit  down 
and  lean  against  trees  and  bushes  to  sleep,  there  being  not  suf- 
ficient ground  to  lie  down  on.  We  crossed  the  river  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  and  passed  on  through,  camping  one  mile  beyond.  Here 
we  remained  two  or  three  days.  Push  now  became  the  order 
of  the  day,  everything  and  everybody  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry. 
On  the  15th  of  March  we  moved  out  for  Corinth,  Mississippi, 
where  we  pitched  our  tents  on  the  20th. 

While  Johnson  was  pushing  his  men  westward  to  Corinth, 
Beauregard  was  hurrying  from  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  Bragg,  to 
meet  Johnson,  with  his  excellently  drilled  and  disciplined  men, 
was  on  his  way  from  the  south.  Gen.  Vandorn  had  been 
ordered  from  the  trans-Mississippi  with  his  seventeen  thou- 
sand (17,000)  men,  also  to  Corinth. 

When  these  three  generals  met  at  Corinth,  they  had  an 
army  without  organization.  Gen.  Johnson  was  the  senior  officer 
and  proceeded  as  quickly  as  possible  to  organize,  forming 
corps,  which,  up  to  this  time  had  not  existed  in  our  army. 
There  were  made  three  corps. 

First  Corps,  under  Gen.  L.  B.  Polk 9,130 

Second  Corps,  under  Gen.  B.  Bragg 13,589 

Third  Corps,  under  Gen.  W.  J.  Hardee 6,789 

With  brigades  as  a  reserve  under  Gen.  Brecken- 
ridge,  composed  of  Trabue's,  Bowen's  and 
Stathani's 6,439 

STATHAM' s  BRIGADE. 

15th  Miss.,  Col.  W.  S.  Statham.  20th  Tenn.,  Col.  Battle. 

22nd  Miss.,  Col.  Scheller.  28th  Tenn.,  Col.  Murray. 

19th  Tenn.,  Col.  Cuinrnings.  45th  Tenn.,  Col.  Lyttle. 

It  was  said  upon  the  arrival  of  Beauregard  at  Corinth,  Gen. 
Johnson  tendered  him  the  command  of  the  army,  but  Gen. 
Beauregard,  the  brave  and  good  soldier  as  he  was,  refused  it, 
partly,  perhaps,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  probably  prefer- 
ring to  serve  his  country  as  a  subordinate  and  follow  the  great 
leader,  Gen.  Johnson.  He  was  physically  unable  to  assume  so 
trying  and  responsible  a  position.  The  Federals,  under  Gen. 
Grant,  had  concentrated  a  large  force  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing on  the  Tennessee  river,  about  twenty  miles  from  Corinth. 


36  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

Gen.  Buel,  with  another  force  of  twenty-five  thousand,  was 
on  his  way  to  join  Grant.  Grant  had  already  fifty  thou- 
sand men  while  Johnson  had  only  about  forty  thousand. 
Johnson  was  very  anxious  to  attack  Grant  before  Buel  arrived, 
and  therefore  could  not  await  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Vaiidorn,  who 
could  not  reach  him  for  three  or  four  days.  So  the  morning  of 
April  the  4th,  '62,  Gen.  Johnson  moved  out  for  the  front, 
taking  two  parallel  roads  leading  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
which  roads  came  together  about  one  and  a  half  miles  south- 
west of  Shiloh  Church.  Hardee  moved  out  first  and  camped 
on  the  road  near  Mackey's.  Bragg  moved  on  the  road  leading 
to  Monterey,  followed  by  Polk  and  Breckenridge.  During  Sat- 
urday we  moved  cautiously  all  day,  and  at  night  we  halted  and 
rested,  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy. 

THE   BATTLEFIELD. 

The  battlefield  formed  a  parallelogram  of  about  equal  sides. 
The  river  and  our  line  of  battle  formed  two  opposite  sides,  and 
Owl  creek  below  and  Lick  creek  above  the  other  two  opposite 
sides.  The  two  creeks  entered  about  three  miles  apart,  and  our 
line  was  formed  about  three  miles  out  from  the  river.  The 
ground  within  this  boundary  was  uneven,  being  interspersed 
with  ridges,  ravines  and  marshy  places,  with  a  few  clearings  in 
the  wooded  land.  There  were  several  small  branches,  some 
running  into  the  creeks  and  some  into  the  river.  Shiloh  church 
is  on  the  road  leading  from  Corinth  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  at 
the  crossing  of  the  road  from  Purdy  to  Hamburg.  The  Church 
stood  about  two  and  a  half  miles  out  from  the  river.  There 
were  several  roads  passing  through  here.  Gen.  Grant  had 
formed  his  lines  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  right  wing  with  five 
divisions;  the  right  of  which  extended  from  near  Owl  creek 
down  the  Purdy  road  and  by  Shiloh  Church,  and  commanding 
all  these  crossings.  Gen.  Prentiss  and  Gen.  Stuart  formed  the 
center,  while  Gens.  Hurlbut  and  Wallace  formed  the  left  wing 
and  extended  on  to  Lick  creek.  Johnson  on  Saturday  evening 
had  blazed  out  his  lines  through  the  woods  right  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy,  and  after  dark  formed  his  lines  so  silently  that  the 
enemy,  though  in  cannon  shot  range,  did  not  hear  him.  On 
our  line  Gen.  Hardee  occupied  our  left  wing,  Bragg  in  the  center 
and  Polk  forming  the  right  wing  with  Breckinridge  as  reserve 
just  in  his  rear.  Here  we  lay  all  night  quietly  resting  and  wait- 


THE    BATTLEFIELD.  37 

ing  for  the  storm  next  rnovning,  and  like  the  horse,  we  could 
almost  sniff  the  coming  battle  already. 

The  two  armies  lay  face  to  face  all  Saturday  night;  the 
enemy  like  a  wild  boar  in  his  den,  not  aroused  by  any  alarm  of 
unseen  danger,  while  Johnson  like  a  panther  hid  in  his  jungle 
waited  opportunity  to  spring  for  deadly  combat  on  his  unsus- 
pecting foe.  Grant  certainly  was  not  dreaming  of  the  near 
approach  of  Johnson,  and  his  videtts  were  asleep  as  to  John- 
son's movements. 

Early  Sunday  morning,  April  the  6th,  1862,  Johnson  moved 
with  as  much  order  as  if  going  on  grand  review.  The  enemy 
were  completely  surprised.  Only  a  few  had  finished  breakfast, 
some  were  yet  in  bed  and  asleep,  and  none  ready  or  expecting  such 
an  attack.  The  enemy,  whose  encampment  our  brigade  so  sud- 
denly and  so  rudely  entered,  and,  too,  without  notice,  were  some- 
what indignant  and  were  thrown  into  great  confusion,  but  they 
rallied  and  gave  us  a  soldierly  reception.  Our  men  kept  pressing 
forward  with  a  determination  not  only  to  gain  ground,  but  to 
hold  all  that  was  gained.  The  enemy  under  a  continuous  fire  of 
musketry  and  artillery,  fell  back  and  formed  a  second  line  and 
for  a  while  checked  our  advance.  Hardee  on  the  left  drove 
the  enemy  back  on  his  second  line  held  by  McLenard,  which 
enabled  Hardee  now  to  strike  Sherman  on  the  flank  forcing 
him  to  retire  with  considerable  loss  of  men  and  several  guns. 
Gen.  Johnson  lead  Jackson's,  Stewart's,  Bowen's  and  Statham's 
brigades  in  a  successful  charge  on  our  right.  They  advanced 
in  "En  Echelon"  with  the  batteries  in  full  play.  The  resistance 
was  vigorous  and  the  contest  was  firm.  Dead  and  wounded 
marked  the  ground  over  which  they  struggled.  The  enemy  was 
now  driven  back  all  along  the  line,  his  left  and  his  right  farther 
than  the  center.  Here  Bragg  had  hard  fighting,  contending  with 
disadvantage  of  ground  and  seemingly  a  superior  force.  The 
fighting  was  desperate  all  along  the  line.  The  roar  of  musketry 
and  artillery,  the  bursting  of  shells  and  the  cracking  of  grape 
and  canister  against  the  timber,  and  the  zip  and  the  wh^  of 
the  minnie  balls  rendered  the  scene  one  that  beggars  descrip- 
tion. Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  in  the  day  the  enemy 
occupied  a  position  on  an  eminence  on  our  right  where  they 
hud  collected  a  heavy  mass  of  troops.  Up  to  this  time  there 
had  been  four  hours  of  hard  fighting,  almost  an  incessant  blaze  of 
fire  all  along  the  line.  We  had  driven  the  enemy  back  on  our  right 


THE   BATTLEFIELD.  39 

to  this  eminence,  where  they  massed  their  troops'  It  was  held  by 
Hulburt  who  had  been  reinforced  by  three  brigades,  and  there 
they  stood  in  double  column  defying  every  attempt  of  our  men 
to  dislodge  them.  Gen.  Johnson  had  ordered  Stath am 's  brig- 
ade, in  which  the  old  19th  was,  and  Bowen's,  joined  by  Chal- 
mer's  of  Wither 's  division,  to  charge  and  drive  the  enemy  from 
this  ridge.  Statham  was  on  a  ridge  opposite  to  that  of  the 
enemy,  and  about  two  hundred  yards  from  them.  To  charge 
the  enemy  at  this  point  our  brigade  had  to  cross  this  exposed 
ridge,  descend  the  slope  aud  ascend  the  one  the  enemy  occu- 
pied commanded  arid  raked  by  their  deadly  fire.  Here  we 
stood  delivering  and  receiving  a  fire  which  Gov.  Harris  said 
was  as  heavy  as  any  he  had  heard,  and  as  heavy  as  any  in  the 
war.  We  could  not  drive  them  by  our  fire  and  to  charge  them 
seemed  like  going  into  the  very  jaws  of  death.  This  position 
was  called  the 

HORNET'S  NEST, 

of  which  Gov.  Harris  said,  "About  one  o'clock  in  the  evening 
Gen.  Johnson  was  informed  that  our  extreme  right  had  encoun- 
tered such  resistance  as  prevented  further  advance.  Gen. 
Johnson  repaired  to  it  at  once.  We  found  our  right  wing 
posted  on  a  ridge,  which  upon  another  parallel  ridge  in  easy 
musket  range,  the  enemy  were  in  great  force.  Here  the  firing- 
was  kept  up  with  great  energy  by  both  armies  for  an  hour." 
Gen.  Johnson  remained  upon  the  line  more  exposed  to  the  fire 
than  any  of  the  soldiers,  and  rode  down  the  line  in  front  of  the 
men  with  his  hat  in  one  hand  and  said,  "They  are  stubborn,  we 
must  give  them  the  bayonet,  I  will  lead  you."  Then  the  whole 
line  moved  with  a  shout  toward  the  enemy  with  a  rapid  and 
resistless  step,  when  a  sheet  of  flame  bust  forth  from  the  Fed- 
eral strong-hold,  and  blazed  along  }he  ridge.  What  a  roar  of 
cannon  and  musketry !  What  a  storm  of  lead  and  iron  hail ! 

The  Confederate  lines,  seemed  to  wither,  to  melt  away,  and 
the  dead  and  dying  strewed  the  dark  ravine,  but  it  did  not  fal- 
ter for  an  instant.  On  they  went  up  the  hill — the  crest  was 
gained  and  the  enemy  was  put  to  lout.  What  a  baptism  of  fire! 
Gen.  Johnson,  in  this  charge,  had  one  of  his  shoe  soles  torn 
away  and  several  balls  had  gone  through  his  clothing.  Although 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  their  strong  position,  yet  as  they 
retired,  they  fired  volley  after  volley  at  us. 

General  Johnson  was  sitting  on  his  horse  watching  them, 


40  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

when  a  minnie  ball  from  one  of  these  retiring  volleys  did  its 
deadly  work,  severing  an  artery  in  his  leg.  Just  at  this  moment 
a  Federal  battery  from  another  point  opened  on  us,  and  General 
Johnson  told  Governor  Harris  to  order  Statham  to  charge  this 
battery.  Governor  Harris  did  so  and  rode  rapidly  back  to  John- 
son just  in  time  to  catch  him  as  he  reeled  from  loss  of  blood  and 
began  falling  from  his  horse.  Governor  Harris  caught  him  in 
his  arms  and  lifted  him  to  the  ground.  He  was  carried  back 
some  two  hundred  yards,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  Old  Nineteenth, 
where  he  expired  in  a  short  time,  his  head  resting  in  the  lap  of 
Governor  Harris. 

The  General's  horse  was  hit  four  times  and  was  led  from 
the  field  scarcely  able  to  walk.  General  Johnson  had  been  at 
the  front  at  other  points  repeatedly,  and  at  one  time  was  in 
pistol  shot  of  General  Sherman,  yet  some  have  blamed  Stat- 
ham's  brigade  with  his  death  because  he  had  led  it,  with  the 
other  two  brigades,  in  this  charge. 

The  charge  was  ended,  and  had  been  successful,  and  all 
were  "observing  the  fleeing  foe,  when  the  cruel  fates  directed 
this  random  shot  that  cut  the  brittle  thread  of  life  and  the  great 
soldier  fell,  but  fell  in  the  hour  of  victory  which  his  matchless 
generalship  had  planned  and  his  brave  battalions  had  won. 

Death  was  riding  over  every  portion  of  the  field,  claiming 
his  victims  by  the  thousands  and  gloating  over  the  triumph  of 
every  hissing  missile.  It  is  true  that  upon  no  other  portion  of 
the  field  did  death  gather  in  such  a  harvest  as  in  this  charge  in 
which  Johnson  fell,  the  last  one  ever  led  by  him.  We  must 
pause,  shed  a  tear,  and  go  on. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Johnson,  General  Beaure- 
gard  assumed  the  command  of  the  army  and  continued  the 
battle.  Up  to  this  hour  (two  o'clock  in  the  evening)  there  had 
been  scarcely  an  intermission  or  a  lull  in  the  battle,  but  now  an 
occasional  pause  was  observed  in  the  roar  of  battle.  The  right 
and  the  left  of  the  enemy's  lines  had  been  driven  back,  while 
the  center  seemed  to  hold  its  own.  Here  General  Ruggle  had 
concentrated  twelve  batteries  in  front  of  Prentiss,  who  was 
stubbornly  holding  the  center  of  the  enemy's  lines.  Hardee 
had  driven  back  the  enemy  before  him,  killing  Gen.  W.  H. 
Wallace,  which  uncovered  General  Prentiss'  right,  while  Polk 
and  Breckenridge,  closing  in  on  his  left,  cut  Prentiss  off,  forc- 
ing him  to  surrender,  with  three  thousand  men,  late  in  the  even- 


NIGHT   ON   THE   BATTLEFIELD.  41 

ing,  about  four  or  five  o'clock.  General  Prentiss  surrendered 
his  sword  to  Lieut.  Col.  F.  M.  Walker,  who  was  in  command  of 
the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment.  Colonel  Cummings,  being 
wounded,  had  left  the  field;  also  Major  Fulkerson.  William 
King,  of  Co.  C,  was  color-bearer,  and  kept  them  up  where  all 
could  see. 

Some  of  Breckenridge's  men  now  exchanged  their  guns  for 
Enfield  rifles  captured  from  General  Prentiss ;  also  a  few  of  the 
Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  exchanged  guns.  Immediately  after 
this,  Statham  and  Bowen  pressed  forward  and  gained  posses- 
sion of  the  crest  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  river,  and  not  far 
above  the  landing,  where  they  endured  for  awhile  a  most  terrific 
fire  from  the  enemy's  gunboats. 

General  McClenard  being  now  exposed,  on  account  of  Hurl- 
but's  retreating  column,  was  assailed  by  General  Hardee. 
Sherman,  who  was  greatly  reduced  by  eight  hours  hard  fight- 
ing, was  driven  back  on  the  hill,  with  his  right  resting  on  Owl 
Creek,  near  enough  for  him  to  command  the  bridge  just  below 
the  junction  with  Snake  Creek.  Here  the  battle  ended  for  the 
day  about  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  leaving  the  enemy  on  his 
last  line,  overlooking  and  crowding  the  river. 

Our  left  was  within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  bridge,  the 
enemy's  only  crossing  of  Owl  Creek,  while  our  right  rested  on 
the  river  above,  exposed  to  the  enemy's  gunboats,  but  being 
too  close  to  be  used  without  endangering  their  own  men.  It 
was  late  in  the  evening  when  Prentiss  was  captured,  but  the 
battle  continued,  although  the  men  were  tired  and  exhausted 
from  the  fatigue  of  the  day's  struggle. 

Quiet  did  not  reign  until  after  dark.     It  was  now 

NIGHT   ON   THE   BATTLEFIELD 

And  the  men  being  sleepy,  began  adjusting  themselves  for 
•sleep.  But  can  they?  The  blood-stained  field,  covered  with 
dead  and  dying,  sadly  echoed  with  the  groans  of  the  suffering. 
During  the  night  the  leaves  and  underbrush  caught  fire  from  a 
bursting  shell  thrown  from  the  gunboats  and  burned  over  con- 
siderable ground  occupied  by  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both 
armies.  It  was  plainly  seen  next  morning  that  many  had  been 
burned  who  were  alive.  The  men  already  dead  were  only 
scorched,  while  the  living  were  blistered.  Oh!  the  ghastly 
sight  presented  next  day  over  the  burnt  field — clothing  partly 
burned  away  and  hair  singed,  eyebrows  gone,  eyes  blood- 


42  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

shotten  and  swollen  lips,  showed  plainly  the  destruction  of  a 
plutonic  war.  God,  viewing  the  scene  with  a  pitying  eye,  just 
after  midnight  sent  a  refreshing  rain,  putting  out  the  fire  and 
cooling  many  a  feverish  brain.  We  had  driven  the  enemy  from 
every  position  he  had  taken  during  the  day.  They  had  lost 
thousands  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured.  We,  too,  had  lost 
heavily,  and  although  we  were  the  victors,  it  was  at  a  terrible 
sacrifice.  The  day  had  been  a  scene  of  fearful  carnage.  The 
crash  of  minnie  ball,  grape,  canister,  bursting  of  shells,  and 
the  cry  of  the  wounded  for  water  and  for  help,  all  made  a  scene 
of  pandemonium.  When  the  battle  ended  for  the  day,  our 
entire  line  fell  back  about  one  mile  and  our  tired  boys  laid 
down  to  rest,  with  their  guns  as  pillows.  They  could  not  sleep. 
Their  minds  were  too  much  occupied  with  the  results  of  the 
day,  wondering  who  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  when  they 
looked  upon  their  thinned  ranks  they  were  astonished  and  truly 
thankful  they  had  escaped  amid  such  a  storm  of  lead  and  iron 
hail. 

"  'Tis  well  the  night  came  on 
To  cloud  the  scene  of  strife 
With  darkness,  and  with  rain 
Wash  the  blood-stained  earth  to-night.  " 

Yes,  thousands  were  sleeping,  but  they  were  those  who 
would  not  awake  in  the  coming  morning.  The  stillness  of 
the  night,  with  its  low  murmuring  wail  of  distress  that  seemed 
to  hover  close  to  the  ground,  was  broken  only  now  and  then  by 
the  whir  and  boom  of  a  stray  shot  from  the  enemy's  gunboats, 
which  were  fired  at  short  intervals  throughout  the  entire  night, 
as  if  tolling  the  lone  hours  of  the  funeral  watch.  Sadness  did 
not  express  the  deep,  anxious  longings  of  our  hearts  as  the 
hours  went  by.  While  we  were  quiet  the  enemy  was  busy. 
Buell  had  arrived  with  twenty-five  thousand  (25,000)  fresh 
troops  and  was  hurrying  to  put  them  into  position,  and  with' 
these  our  tired  but  brave  boys  must  contend  in  the  morning. 
Of  these,  Nelson  and  Crittenden  were  put  on  their  left  and 
were  in  front  of  Polk  and  Breckenridge,  McCook  in  the  center, 
and  the  rest  of  their  men  were  in  front  of  Hardee.  Brecken- 
ridge opened  the  attack  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  on  our 
right,  against  Nelson,  and  the  tide  of  battle  rolled  down  the 
line  to  our  left.  Breckenridge 's  tired  men  rushed  with  such 
vim  against  Grant's  new  men  as  to  utterly  astonish  them,  driv- 
ing Nelson  at  once  from  his  position.  A  battery  coming  in  hot 


NIGHT   ON   THE   BATTLEFIELD.  43 

haste  to  Nelson's  assistance,  barely  escaped  capture  at  the 
hands  of  Cheatham,  who  had  at  that  moment  come  to  our  help. 
At  this  hour  we  had  gained  but  little  ground  and  were  barely 
holding  that  on  our  right,  while  on  our  left,  where  the  enemy 
had  posted  most  of  their  men,  we  could  only  hold  our  own. 
About  ten  o'clock  Breckenridge  sent  Statham's  and  Bowen's 
brigades,  of  his  division,  to  Shiloh  Church,  where,  with  Hind- 
man's  and  part  of  Cleburn's  division,  under  Hardee,  they  met 
McCook,  whom  they  repulsed.  General  Sherman,  after  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  in  speaking  of  McCook's  advance  at  this  point 
near  the  church,  said:  "I  saw  Williche's  32nd  Indiana  reg- 
iment advance  upon  a  thicket  of  white  oaks,  behind  which  I 
knew  the  enemy  were  in  great  force,  and  enter  it  in  fine  style. 
Then  arose  the  severest  musketry  fire  I  ever  heard  for  at  least 
twtiity  minutes,  when  the  splendid  regiment  of  Williche's  had 
to  fall  back.  The  old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  was  at  the  recep- 
tion of  this  charge  of  the  enemy.  To-day's  fighting  was  spas- 
modic, charging  here  and  there  with  much  maneuvering.  The 
last  hard  struggle  was  near  Shiloh  Church,  where  the  worn  out 
Confederates  had  successfully  contended  against  the  enemy. 
We  were  gaining  no  ground,  nor  were  we  loosing  ground.  Gen. 
Beauregard,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  evening,  ordered  a  halt, 
when  seemingly  by  mutual  consent  the  battle  ended.  Just  at 
this  moment,  as  the  firing1  subsided  all  along  the  line,  the 
enemy  were  reinforced  by  three  fresh  brigades  from  Wood's 
division,  but  they  did  not  renew  the  attack.  Beauregard  at  this 
time  ordered  our  (Statham's)  brigade  with  a  Keutuckv  brigade 
to  form  at  the  junction  of  the  roads;  the  one  from  Monterey 
to  Pittsburg  Landing  and  the  other  from  Purdy  to  Hamburg, 
to  meet  any  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  to  act  as  a  rear  guard 
to  the  now  retiring  army.  These  two  roads  cross  each  other  at 
Shiloh  Church.  These  two  brigades  camped  Monday  night  on 
the  battle  field  near  where  the  fight  began  on  Sunday  morning. 
Tuesday  morning  we  moved  back  nearly  three  miles  to  Mac-k- 
ey's where  we  remained  three  days.  Eeader,  it  is  useless  to 
attempt  a  description  of  the  battle  field  of  Shiloh.  Language 
would  fail  to  portray  it  as  it  was.  The  dead  were  piled  on  each 
other  in  many  places.  In  the  center  of  the  battlefield  was  a 
pond  in  and  around  which  were  many  dead  men  and  several 
horses,  both,  either  killed  there  or  had  been  wounded  and  had 
gone  there  for  water  and  had  died.  This  could  be  truely  called 
the  "death-pond"  of  Shiloh.  All  over  the  field  the  dead  lay 


44  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

side  by  side — the  brave  "Who  wore  the  blue  and  those  who 
wore  the  gray"  now  no  longer  foes.  The  wounded  of  both 
armies,  who  yet  remained  on  the  field,  showed  the  true  man- 
hood and  brotherly  feeling  by  helping  each  other  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, consoling  each  other  and  sharing  each  other's  woes.  The 
blue  and  the  gray  had  fallen  on  each  other  and  lay  as  if  sleep- 
ing in  each  other's  embrace.  Dead  horses,  broken  ambulances 
and  shattered  caisons  lay  thickly  strewn  over  all  the  field,  all  of 
which  made  up  the  sad,  sad  scene.  We  could  see  but  part  of 
the  sad  wreck.  The  loss  in  the  aggregate  God  only  knows,  and 
the  morning  of  the  eternity  will  only  reveal.  Gen.  Albert  Sid- 
ney Johnson  had  been  killed,  Gen.  Hardee  was  wounded,  after 
he  had  his  clothes  torn  by  several  bullets  and  Gen.  Breckenridge 
was  twice  hit  by  spent  balls.  The  old  Nineteenth  Tennessee 
was  in  some  of  the  hottest  contests.  Our  brigade  was  the  sec- 
ond in  the  list  of  casualties.  The  brigade  had  lost  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  killed,  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  wounded 
and  supposed  captured  forty-five.  While  there  are  always  some 
amusing  incidents  that  occur  on  a  battlefield,  there  are  many 
sad  and  pathetic  scenes  during  the  strife  of  battle.  During  the 
first  day's  fighting  John  Easterling,  of  Company  C,  poor  fellow, 
was  wearing  a  blue  shade  of  home-made  clothing.  A  piece  of 
shell  tore  away  a  greater  part  of  his  lower  jaw,  he  cound  not 
speak,  and  wanting  help  he  went  up  to  Lieut.  B.  F.  Moore,  of 
Company  I.  The  Lietenant  did  not  recognize  him  and  think- 
ing he  was  a  wounded  Federal,  spoke  sharply  to  him,  told  him 
to  go  to  the  rear  where  help  could  be  had,  where  he  died  very 
soon. 

Our  two  brigades,  Statham's  and  the  Kentucky  brigade, 
after  finishing  the  work  assigned  them,  moved  on  to  Corinth 
Friday  noon  and  went  into  camp.  We  are  sorry  we  could  not 
obtain  a  correct  list  of  the  casualties  of  our  regiment,  but  give 
as  far  as  we  are  able  the  names  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 
Lieut.  J.  M.  Sims,  of  Company  F,  was  wounded  and  left  on  the 
field  and  was  captured.  After  we  had  returned  to  Corinth,  Mr. 
B.  M.  Sims,  a  brother,  came  to  the  regiment  and  learning  that 
the  Lieutenant  was  wounded  and  left  on  the  field,  set  out  at  once 
to  find  him.  He  was  found  about  midnight  in  the  Federal  hos- 
pital unable  to  walk  and  suffering.  Mr.  Sims  slipped  his 
brother  out  of  the  tent  and  carried  him  on  his  back  that  night 
out  through  the  picket  line  and  five  miles  before  he  stopped  to 
rest.  They  lay  there  the  rest  of  the  night.  The  next  morning 


CASUALTIES. 


45 


they  were  picked  up   by   Forrest's   cavalry  and  taken    into 
Corinth  and  to  the  hospital. 

THE  KILLED. 

Powers.  James, Co.  A.     Cunningham,  S.  H Co.  E. 

Godby,  John "     "      Curren,  Conley "    " 

Rowe,  Lewis "     "      Leath,  T.  J "    " 

Willette.  Capt.  Jeb.  T,  Co.  B.    Allen,  Geo.  W 

Bains,  John "     "      Farner,  Isaac 


O'Conner,  John 

Vance,  Sergt,  Sam  E. 

Easterling,  John 

Roberts,  Isaac 

Lyons,  Dan 

Cooper,  Geo.  A 

Bradford,  M 

Kennon,  M 

Boofer,  Wm.  R 

Bradley,  Sam 


C.  Chase,  J.  T 

"  York,  Charles 

"  Cheek,  E.  W 

"  Montague,  J.  R 

"  Walker,  Capt,  T.  H 

44  Courtney,  N 

D.  Keeling,  Frank 

"  Wolfenburg,  K.  S... 


F. 

.  i 

G. 


H. 
I. 

4  t 

K. 


E 


Etter,  C.  C. 
Webster.  E. 


WOUNDED. 


Col.  D.  H.  Cummings.  Maj.  Abe  Fulkerson. 

1.  Wright,  Thomas.. Co.  A.     16.  Lincoln,  John "  D. 

2.  Gaby,  Sam "     B.     17.  Newport,  J.  F "  " 

"      18.  Shaver,  J.  A "  " 

C.  19.  Ward,  Wm "  " 

44      20.  Craig,  Al "  E. 

44      21.  Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M.  "  F. 

"      22.  Rhea,  J.  A "  G. 

"      23.  Potterfield,  Wm...   "  " 

D.  24.  Duncan,  Sam "  " 

C.  25.  Wilhorn,Jno.  (died)  "  " 

44      26.  Buckner,  J.  M "  H. 

44      27.  Wilkins,  Lieut.  Doc  "  " 

"      28.  Brewer  Clark "  I': 

44      29.  Carmack,  John....   "  K. 

D.  30.  Speck,  Lawrence?  "  " 

31.  Massengill,  Felix,  Company  G,   (died,  luka,  Miss.) 

32.  Moore,  John,  Company  G,  (died,  Brownsville,  Miss.) 

33.  Bruce,  Wm.,  Company  G.  (died,  Mobile,  Ala.) 


3.  King,  E.  R 

4.  White,  John 

5.  Roberts,  Jake 

6.  Johnson,  B.  J.  S. . 

7.  Harr,  Robt 

8.  Erps,  Adrin 

9.  Pile,  John 

10.  Webb,  Lieut,  Ben. 

11.  Roberts,  Sam 

12.  Johns,  B.  J 

13.  Gray,  Al 

14.  Pactol,  Sam 

15.  Wallace,  Lieut,  J.A 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AROUND   CORINTH. 

long  eventful  months  had  now  gone  by  since  the 
Confederate  States  began  battling  for  a  position  in  the  gal- 
axy of  nations,  and  these  months  had  not  passed  without 
results.      They  had  sealed  the  destinies  of  thousands  of  her 
noble  sons.    They  had  brought  blight  to  once  happy  homes  and 
loving  hearts.     Grim  monster  death  had  been  busy  hanging 
crape  on  the  door  knobs  of  those  who  had  gone  out  in  defense 
of  their  homes,  thus  reminding  the  loved  ones  there  that  the 
vacant  chair  around  the  fireside  would  never  be  filled  by  them 
again. 

None  but  God  knew  the  thoughts  of  the  dying  as  the  last 
light  of  earth  was  receding  from  vision.  Could  they  have  been 
registered,  they  would  have  been,  no  doubt: 

•'I  have  for  my  country  fallen, 
Who  will  care  for  mother  now?" 

All  the  men  in  the  army  had  enlisted  for  only  one  year,  and 
that  year  had  now  ended  and  the  war  but  begun.  Now  comes 
the  true  test  of  patriotism.  At  the  beginning  we  did  not  know 
all  that  war  meant  by  the  word  WAR,  but  now  we  knew  it  in  all 
its  horrors.  Our  time  was  now  out  and  we  could  have  honor- 
ably gone  home.  But  no — when  we  thought  of  home  and  what 
brought  us  out,  we  could  not  return  as  yet. 

"0,  I  long  to  see  you,  mother, 

And  the  loving  ones  at  home, 
But  I  can  never  leave  our  banner 
'Till  in  honor  I  can  come." 

We  re-enlisted,  and  that  for  the  war,  whether  long  or  short. 
On  May  10th  the  Confederate  army  re-enlisted  till  the  end. 
In  the 

REORGANIZATION 

Many  changes  were  made  in  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  and 


MAJOR  A.  FULKERSON. 

Major  Fulkerson  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Va.,  in  May,  1834. 
(graduated  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  in  1857.  Joined  the  Nineteenth 
Tennessee  regiment,  and  at  the  organization,  in  June,  1861,  at  Knoxville, 
1\VW.as  elected  Major  of  the  regiment.  At  the  reorganization,  in  April, 
,  Ma.ior  b  ulkerson  was  made  Colonel  of  the  Sixty-third  Tennessee  regiment. 


REORGANIZATION.  47 

also  in  those  of  the  companies.     The  following-  were  elected  as 
regimental  and  company  officers : 

F.  M.  Walker .Colonel. 

B.  F.  Mooore Lieutenant-Colonel. 

R.  A.  Jarnagin Major. 

Arthur  Fulkerson Sergeant-Major. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Delaney Surgeon. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Pyott Assistant  Surgeon. 

A.  D.  Taylor Quartermaster. 

J.  H.  Kennedy Commissary. 

Wm.  Bowles Adjutant. 

W.  J.  Worsham, ) 

Rufus  Lamb,        [• Chief  Musicians. 

James  Tyner,       ) 

COMPANIES. 

Co.  A — D.  A.  Kennedy Captain. 

F.  M.  Foust First  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Carney Second  Lieutenant. 

N.  P.  Nail Third  Lieutenant, 

Co.  B — J.  D.  Deaderick Captain. 

J.  C.  Hammer First  Lieutenant. 

R.  J.  Tipton Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  M.  Brabson Third  Lieutenant, 

Co.  C — W.  C.  Harvey Captain. 

M.  J.  Miles First  Lieutenant. 

A.  W.  Smith Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Miles Third  Lieutenant. 

Co.  D — J.  G.  Frazier Captain. 

S.  J.  A.  Frazier First  Lieutenant. 

A.  B.  Hodge Second  Lieutenant. 

Thos.  Cunningham Third  Lieutenant, 

Co.  E-W.  W.  Lackey Captain. 

S.  B.  Abbernathy First  Lieutenant. 

Henry  A.  Waller Second  Lieutenant. 

Jake  L.  Waller Third  Lieutenant. 

Co.  F — J.  H.  Hannah Captain. 

J.  M.  Sims First  Lieutenant. 

J.  F.  Sharp Second  Lieutenant. 

"       Robt.  Rhea. .  .  .Third  Lieutenant. 


48  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

Co.  G— A.  L.  Gammon Captain. 

"       Jas.  A.  Rhea First  Lieutenant. 

J.  K.  P.  Gammon         Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  D.  Hawk Third  Lieutenant. 

Co.  H— W.  Paul  McDermott Captain. 

J.  H.  Kimborough First  Lieutenant, 

Frank  S.  Hale Second  Lieutenant. 

Benj.  F.  Hoyle Third  Lieutenant. 

Co.   I—  J.  D.  Lively Captain. 

J.  E.  Wooding First  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Lovejoy Second  Lieutenant. 

''       Wm.  Hale Third  Lieutenant. 

Co.  K— C,  W.  Heiskell Captain. 

''       J.  H.  Huffmaster First  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Etter Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  B.  Miller Third  Lieutenant. 

All  the  old  officers  who  were  not  re-elected  left  us  for  other 
commands,  preferring  to  be  privates  under  other  men,  than 
those  over  whom  they  had  had  command.  Some  were  elected 
to  higher  rank  of  command  in  other  regiments.  After  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  Beauregard  began  fortifying  extensively 
around  Corinth.  The  Federals  followed  slowly  and  did 
not  press  their  suit  to  any  greater  degree  than  a  cavalry  picket 
line.  We  remained  here  nearly  two  months,  during  which  time 
the  pickets  kept  up  almost  daily  a  musket  and  artillery  duel. 

The  water  we  had  to  use  was  of  the  poorest  kind,  very  bad 
and  only  accessible  by  digging  holes  in  the  ground  one  or  two 
feet  deep,  and  allowing  them  to  fill  up  with  seep  water.  After 
exposure  to  the  sun  but  a  day  or  two,  the  water  would  be  full 
of  wiggletails,  and  the  use  of  this  water  soon  began  to  tell  upon 
the  health  of  the  army.  The  sick  list  ran  up  at  a  fearful  rate, 
and  the  mortality  increased  daily.  Beauregard  sent  the  sick 
away  as  fast  as  they  could  be  moved.  While  many  died  from 
sickness  contracted  in  camp,  many  died  from  their  wounds  re- 
ceived in  the  battle  at  Shiloh.  We  give  but  a  partial  list  of 
deaths  of  the  old  19th,  from  sickness  while  around  Corinth. 

DIED. 

McKinney,  William Co.  A.  Burnett.  James Co.  H. 

Salts,  John "     B.  Graves,  Wash "     " 

Hampton,  William "     "    Douglas,  H.  D "     " 

Webb,  Lieut,  Ben "    C.  Williams,  C.  F. "     " 


AROUND   CORINTH.  49 

Cook,  John "  "  Hall,  John  M Co.  I 

Flenor,  Pete "  "  Melton,  A.  J "  " 

Roberts,  Sam "  "  Parker,  L.  D "  " 

Harr,  Robert "  "  Langrace,  R "  K 

DePue-    - "  B.  Cross,  A.  J * 

Gray,  James "  "  Duncan,  William ' 

Grant,  John "  G  Drake  Samuel "  " 

Soon  after  Gen.  Beauregard  had  reached  Corinth,  Gen. 
Vandorn,  with  his  command  of  seventeen  thousand  (17,000) 
men,  arrived.  He  should  have  reached  the  battlefield  of  Shiloh 
Sunday  evening,  and  met  Gen.  Buel's  fresh  troops.  If  he  had, 
we  would  have  made  it  more  lively  for  Grant,  Monday,  than 
we  did.  May  the  25th,  1862,  Beauregard  began  moving  all  his 
munitions  of  war  from  Corinth,  and  as  soon  as  this  was  accom- 
plished, the  army  began  falling  back  towards  Tupelo,  Miss. 
The  morning  of  the  25th  our  regiment  was  sent  down  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  about  eight  miles  to  protect  a  bridge 
across  a  creek  running  through  a  low,  swampy  country,  and  a 
perfect  jungle.  In  this  place  we  lay  about  one  week,  with 
scarcely  enough  ground  above  water  on  which  to  lie  down. 
The  undergrowth  was  so  dense  that  just  now  and  then,  and  here 
and  there,  the  sun  could  get  through  the  foliage  to  give  life  to  the 
struggling  vegetation,  dying  for  want  of  sun-light.  About  noon 
of  the  second  day  of  June  we  crawled  out  from  our  hiding  place 
in  the  swamp,  out  of  the  mud  and  water,  on  to  dry  ground,  to 
sun  and  dry  ourselves.  We  moved  out  from  this  place  without  a 
single  regret,  and  took  the  railroad  for  Baldwin,  Miss.,  where 
we  stopped  but  a  day.  From  here  we  moved  on  to  Tupelo, 
where  now  the  entire  army  was  encamped.  In  the  jungle  or 
on  the  high-lands,  in  camp  or  on  the  march,  in  the  rain  or 
stretched  out  lizzard-like  taking  a  sun-bath,  no  jollier  set  of 
men  could  be  found  than  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee ;  always 
willing,  ever  ready  to  go  where  duty  called. 

Gen.  Beauregard  took  command  of  the  army  on  the  field  of 
Shiloh,  and  finished  the  battle  when  he  could  scarcely  keep  in 
the  saddle.  His  ill  health  was  his  great  impediment.  And 
owing  to  the  continued  failure  of  health,  he  turned  over  the 
command  of  the  army  to  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg  June  the  10th, 
1862.  Soon  after  taking  command,  Gen.  Bragg  sent  a  portion 
of  the  army  to  Vicksburg,  under  Gen.  Breckenridge,  and  with 
the  remainder  of  the  army  he  returned  to  Tennessee.  Statham's 


50  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

brigade,  in  which  was  the  Old  Nineteenth,  was  one  of  the  brig- 
ades sent  to  Vicksburg.  June  the  19th,  Gen.  Breckeuridge  re- 
ceived the  following  order: 

Special  order, )      HEADQUARTERS  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT. 

No.  -  j  TUPELO,  Miss.,  June  18th,  1862. 

Breckenridge's  division  of  the  Army  of  Mississippi,  will  be 
prepared  to  move  in  light  marching  order  with  all  possible 
celerity,  with  six  days'  rations,  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammu- 
nition for  small  arms  and  the  current  supply  for  field  batteries. 
Brig.  Gen.  Preston  will  report  at  once  to  the  commander  of  the 
forces  for  special  instructions. 

By  command  of  Gen.  Bragg.  GEO.  W.  BRENT, 

Act.  Chief  of  Staff. 

McClung's  battery,  having  been  transferred  to  our  brigade, 
became  part  of  it.  We  moved  out  from  Tupelo  on  the  20th 
with  one  division,  composed  of  four  brigades.  Our  line  of  march 
from  Tupelo,  was  northwest  across  the  country,  through  a  land 
not  very  rich  and  poorly  watered.  We  suffered  for  water,  often 
going  miles  without  finding  a  well,  cistern  or  running  stream. 
The  horses  suffered  alike  with  the  men. 

We  reached  Abbeville  on  the  N.  O.  &  N.  W.  E.  Ry,  on  the 
25th  of  June,  where  we  rested  for  the  day.  Here  we  took  the 
train  and  passed  through  Jackson  on  to  Vicksburg,  which  place 
we  reached  on  the  evening  of  July  1st,  1862. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


VICKSBURG. 

\TICKSBURGr,  the  city  ou  the  hills,  like  her  ancient  sister, 
Rome,  her  foundations  are  the  eternal  hills.  The  hills  are 
called  "Walnut  Hills,"  and  each  one  stands  alone,  or 
seemingly  so,  while  in  truth  it  is  a  ridge  broken  along  here  by 
deep  ravines.  The  railroad  from  Jackson  finds  its  way  to  the 
wharf  through  one  of  these  ravines.  On  these  hills  we  had  our 
large  siege  guns,  making  a  splendid  fort,  underneath  which  was 
the  magazine,  deep  beneath  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  shells. 
Vicksburg  was  a  romantic  place.  Her  several  hills  were  cov- 
ered with  beautiful  residences,  with  large  yards  full  of  flowers 
and  shrubbery,  and  many  gardens  growing  figs,  pomegranates, 
artichokes,  etc.,  not  such  as  we  were  used  to,  for  these  were  on 
trees  and  shrubbery  instead  of  in  the  ground.  We  lived  well 
here.  The  scenes  and  the  surroundings  were  so  different  from 
anything  we  had  yet  met.  Our  encampment  was  out  from 
the  city  about  two  miles.  Our  water  supply  for  the  first  few 
days  was  from  an  old  pond,  full  of  green  moss  and  wiggletails, 
and  we  had  to  filter  the  water  we  used.  We  were  on  picket 
duty  along  the  levy  about  five  days  and  nights  in  each  week. 
Here  again  we  were  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  gunboats.  There 
were  two  fleets,  one  above  and  one  below  the  city.  The  third 
day  of  July  we  lay  on  the  levee,  below  the  city,  and  remained 
there  all  night.  We  expected  the  enemy  to  begin  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Fourth  of  July  early  the  next  morning  by  shelling 
us  from  the  two  fleets.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  Fourth  we 
moved  up  from  the  bottoms  on  to  higher  grounds,  directly  under 
one  of  our  large  batteries,  and  were  in  plain  view  of  both  fleets 
all  day.  Our  most  sanguine  expectations  of  a  lively  -day  from 
shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy's  gunboats  and  mortar  boats  were 
sadly  disappointed.  Everything  was  strangely  silent.  The 
sun  this  morning  (the  fourth)  seemed  to  spread  a  pall  of  silence 


52  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

over  everything,  and  not  until  it  had  climbed  the  eastern  hori- 
zon and  passed  the  zenith  was  the  monotony  broken.  There 
had  not  been  a  day,  not  even  a  Sabbath  day,  so  quiet  as  this 
one  so  far  had  been.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  evening  one  of 
our  large  guns  sent  a  shell  whizzing  through  the  air,  inquiring 
of  the  enemy  why  they  were  so  silent,  when  one  solitary  shot 
from  the  enemy's  lower  fleet  came  in  reply,  and  silence  reigned 
again  until  night  spread  her  dark  mantle  over  all.  Constantly 
the  two  fleets  kept  us  on  the  lookout  day  and  night.  Shells, 
two  hundred-pounders,  were  bursting  over  our  heads  and  all 
around  us  continually.  The  air  was  kept  full  of  flying  missiles, 
falling  here  and  there,  and  often  wounding  women  and  children 
in  their  homes  and  on  the  streets.  Shells  would  go  crashing 
through  their  residences.  The  streets  were  kept  torn  up  by  the 
shells  going  into  the  ground  and  bursting,  tearing  up  holes  suf- 
ficient to  bury  a  horse  in.  The  soil  being  sandy,  it  was  fun  for 
the  boys  when  one  of  these  would  go  four  or  five  feet  in  the 
ground,  to  gather  around  the  opening,  when  the  explo- 
sion of  the  shell  would  throw  dirt  all  over  them.  The  lower 
fleet  was  about  three  and  a  half  miles  below  the  city  and  the 
upper  one  about  three  miles  above,  directly  opposite  the  city 
across  the  peninsular.  The  hills  around  the  city  and  below  had 
many  beautiful  residences  on  them.  There  was  one  large  house 
on  one  of  these  hills  not  far  from  the  lower  fleet,  from  the  top 
of  which  the  fleet  could  be  seen  plainly.  The  boys  would 
gather  on  top  of  this  house  and  watch  the  maneuvering  of  the 
fleet.  One  day  the  boys  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  were  on  top  of 
the  house  and  had  attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy  and 
they  made  the  house  a  target.  The  first  shot  came  so  close  the 
boys  got  down  and  off,  none  too  soon  for  the  second  shot  demol- 
ished the  house.  The  gunboats  were  very  restless,  moving 
about,  staying  in  one  position  but  a  short  time.  Each  fleet  had  a 
small  boat,  the  boys  called  the  "fice,"  they  were  continually  on 
the  run,  to  first  one  boat  and  then  another.  While  we  were 
here,  the  Federals  began  cutting  a  canal  across  the  peninsular. 
They  worked  principally  at  night,  for  during  the  day  our  guns 
made  it  too  warm  for  them  to  stay  in  the  canal. 

GUNBOAT   HUNT. 

For  several  days  the  Federals  had  two  mortar  boats  tied  up 
to  the  bank  on  our  side  of  the  river.  The  Old  Nineteenth  and  a 
part  of  the  Fifteenth  Miss.,  under  Col..  Walker,  were  sent  down 


54  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

to  investigate  the  right  they  had  taken  in  so  doing,  and  to  take 
them  in  if  necessary.  The  day  was  an  exceedingly  hot  one, 
and  but  little  air  was  stirring.  The  road  was  graded,  cutting 
through  the  small  hills  and  when  we  would  get  into  one  of  these 
cuts  the  heat  was  so  oppressive  that  it  was  almost  intolerable. 
The  distance  we  had  to  go  was  about  four  miles,  and  many  of 
the  men  were  overcome  by  the  heat,  fell  by  the  wayside,  com- 
pletely exhausted.  There  were  more  Mississippians  fell  out  on 
account  of  the  heat  than  Tennesseeaiis.  The  writer  gathered 
leaves  and  put  them  in  his  hat  changing  them  every  few  min- 
utes, yet  he  came  very  near  giving  it  up  at  one  time.  The  sun 
light  seemed  to  have  gone  out,  everything  became  dark.  He 
staggered  and  came  very  near  falling.  Sitting  down  for  a  while 
this  soon  wore  off  and  he  moved  on  alright.  Finally  we 
reached  the  river  bottoms  across  which  we  must  go,  through 
marshy  places,  mud  and  lagoons.  There  were  bamboo  briars 
in  abundance,  whose  long  thorny  arms  reaching  out  for  every- 
thing that  passed,  were  ahead  of  and  awaiting  us.  We  fail 
to  express  it  when  we  say  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  we 
picked  our  way  acrosse  the  bottom  and  reached  the  levee 
beyond,  upon  whose  crest  for  some  distance  above  and  below  us 
was  a  thick,  heavy  cane  brake,  which  completely  hid  us  from 
view  of  the  enemy.  On  reaching  the  cane  brake  we  found  the 
object  of  our  search  lay  about  one  hundred  yards  below  us. 
Moving  cautiously  down  the  levee  behind  the  cane,  until  we 
thought  we  were  far  enough,  and  were  even  with  the  boats,  we 
made  a  rush  forward  to  the  river.  The  lower  end  or  left  wing 
of  our  column  fell  in  about  twenty  yards  above  the  nearest 
boat.  Out  in  the  river  before  us  lay  the  entire  fleet  like  a  small 
village  on  the  water.  The  two  boats  were  moored  close  to  the 
bank  and  the  men  were  out,  some  on  the  bank  sleeping,  some 
playing  cards  and  others  on  the  deck.  Little  did  they  dream  of 
danger.  One  or  two  volleys  from  our  guns  sent  several  of  them  to 
their  long  homes,  just  how  many  were  killed  we  could  not  tell. 
It  was  only  a  moment's  work  and  we  had  to  take  shelter  behind 
the  elevation  of  the  levee  just  in  time  to  save  ourselves,  where  we 
had  to  remain  for  some  time.  Oh,  my!  It  seemed  as  if  the 
very  gravels  and  rocks  from  the  river's  bed  arose  in  their 
defense  and  came  crashing  through  the  cane  after  us.  From 
the  side  of  every  boat  came  shot  and  shell,  grape  and  canister 
until  the  boat  seemed  a  blaze  of  fire  and  one  continuous  roar 
of  cannon.  As  soon  as  the  firing  subsided  sufficiently  for  us  to 


VICKSBUKG.  55 

venture  from  our  hiding,  we  moved  out  while  the  enemy  kept 
up  the  firing  which  hurried  us  on.  We  did  not  go  out 
in  as  as  good  order  as  we  went  in,  nor  were  we  as  partic- 
ular in  picking  our  way.  The  grape  kept  coming  too  plenti- 
fully for  comfort  and  the  writer  made  for  a  large  cypress  tree 
that  stood  just  ahead  of  him,  when  just  before  he  reached  it  and 
within  two  steps  of  it,  a  four  pound  shot  went  through  the  tree  a 
little  above  his  head.  Thinking  it  but  little  safer  behind  the 
tree  than  anywhere  else,  he  moved  on.  Several  of  the  men  lost 
their  shoes  in  the  mud.  Capt.  Deaderick  mired  up  in  the  quick- 
sand so  he  could  not  move,  and  two  men  had  to  help  him  and 
they  too,  came  near  sticking.  It  was  said  one  man  lost  his 
breeches,  torn  off  by  the  bamboo  and  the  thorns.  We  lost  two 
men,  supposed  killed  and  two  wounded.  It  was  certainly  a 
"wild  goose  chase,"  and  was  not  as  successful  as  was  our  trip 
to  Goose  Creek  in  Kentucky.  But  then,  gunboats  are  not  as 
easily  handled  as  salt.  We  returned  to  camp  and  had  many  a 
hearty  laugh  over  our  adventure  in  the  "gunboat  hunt."  On 
one  of  these  walnut  hills,  an  Englishman  had  a  fine  residence  in 
a  beautiful,  large,  grassy  yard  full  of  shrubery  and  flowers.  In 
this  yard  our  regiment  passed  one  or  two  afternoons  and  nights 
each  week  resting  under  the  shade  of  the  trees.  Here  we  were 
in  plain  view  of  the  upper  fleet.  Our  continued  presence  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  enemy  and  they  would  shell  us,  the 
shells  passing  through  the  yard  and  burst  near  by.  This  raised 
the  ire  of  the  old  Englishman  and  he  soured  on  us.  He  would 
have  quickly  driven  us  out  and  off  of  his  premises  had  he 
the  power.  After  a  few  shells  had  gone  through  his  yard  and 
had  demolished  some  of  his  shrubbery,  thinking  to  fortify 
against  the  enemy's  shell  he  raised  the  English  flag  on  top  of 
his  house  and  also  on  his  barn.  So  we  rested  under  the  shadow 
of  the  English  flag  as  well  as  that  of  the  Confederate;  while  in 
sight  in  the  distance,  the  stars  and  stripes  floated  in  the  breeze. 
The  old  Englishman  soon  learned  that  his  flag  did  not  put  eyes 
to  the  shells  of  the  Federal  guns.  For  one  day  he  was  in  his 
barn  currying  his  cow,  which  was  a  daily  business  with,  him, 
when  a  shell  came  crashing  through  the  barn,  barely  missing 
him  and  his  cow  and  went  on,  on  its  frightful  mission  to  scare 
some  one  else.  As  usual  we  had  to  keep  up  drill  and  inspec- 
tion. We  had  in  our  regiment  a  dutchuian,  and  judging  from 
his  physique  he  was  of  lager  beer  fame,  having  a  large  "bay 
window."  One  morning  Lieut.  Col.  Moore  was  inspecting  the 


56  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

regiment  and  was  getting  the  men  in  line.  This  dutchmaii, 
whose  name  was  Godhelp,  seemed  with  great  difficulty  to  get 
into  line,  his  "bay  window"  being  too  large.  The  Colonel 
called  out  to  him,  "You  dutchman,  Godhelp,  put  in  your 
belly." 

On  July  10th  General  Breckenridge  issued  the  following 
order : 

General  Order )        HEADQUARTERS  BRECKENRIDGE 's  DIVISION, 
No.  2.         j  VICKSBURG,  Miss.,  July  10,  1862. 

Hereafter  the  several  brigades  composing  this  division  will 
be   numbered  as  follows:    First  brigade,  Brig.  Gen.  Bo  wen; 
Second  brigade,  Brig.  Gen.  Helm;    Third  brigade,  Brig.  Gen. 
Preston;  Fourth  brigade,  Col.  W.  S.  Statham. 
By  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Breckenridge. 

JOHN  T.  PICKETT, 

Asst.  Adj.  Gen. 

Our  brigade  was  composed  of  the  same  regiments  as  when 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was  the  fourth  in  the  present  divis- 
ion. On  the  16th  there  was  read  in  the  brigade  the  following 
order  concerning  a  boat  that  was  then  anchored  in  the  Yazoo 
river,  above  Vicksburg: 

CAMP  OF  THE  HUDSON  BATTERY, 
NEAR  VICKSBURG,  Miss.,  July  16,  1862. 

Capt.  W.  C.  McCawley,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade,  Breckinridge's  Division: 
DEAR  SIR— I  received  a  circular,  of  date  July  loth,  calling 
for  volunteers   to  go   on   board   the  Arkansas  Ram  to  attack 
the  fleet  just  below  us.       Respectfully, 

H.  B.  HELM, 
Brig.  Gen.  Second  Brigade. 

This  was  news  to  us,  for  we  did  not  know  we  had  a  gunboat 
so  near.  This  call  was  made  in  all  the  regiments  of  the  brigade. 
The  Old  Nineteenth  responded,  which  she  always  did,  to  any 
duty  in  any  emergency.  A  detail  was  sent  from  our  regiment 
to  Captain  Brown,  who  was  in  command  of  the  boat.  A  few 
days  after  the  detail  had  been  sent  from  the  brigade,  there  was 
read  the  following  notice,  which  seemed  to  show  there  had  been 
some  trouble: 


VICKSBURG.  57 

HEADQUARTERS  FOURTH  BRIGADE, 

VICKSBURG,  Miss.,  July  20,  1862. 
Major  Pickett,  Assistant  Adjutant-General : 

DEAR  SIR— I  have  the  honor  to  report,  after  making  exam- 
ination, that  the  lieutenant  and  men  who  volunteered  from  my 
brigade  arid  went  on  board  the  Arkansas  are  there  yet  and  have 
not  been  ashore  with  the  purpose  of  leaving  the  boat.  The 
lieutenant  is  distressed  that  such  a  report  should  be  made  con- 
cerning him  and  his  men.  Direction  will  be  given  that  they 
remain  until  otherwise  ordered  from  your  headquarters  or  by 
Captain  Brown.  I  make  this  report  at  the  request  of  Col.  W.  S. 
Statham,  commanding  brigade,  who  is  now  in  bed  with  a  very 
hot  fever.  The  six  volunteer  firemen  called  for  yesterday  were 
sent  to  the  Arkansas  late  yesterday  evening. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

HARRY  P.  THORNTON, 

Act'g.  Ass't.  Adjt.'  Gen. 

Col.  W.  S.  Statham,  our  brigade  commander,  had  been 
complaining  for  several  days,  although  he  had  been  out  nearly 
every  day.  The  communication  just  given  was  the  last  one  he 
ever  wrote  or  dictated.  He  grew  worse  rapidly  and  August'  1st 
he  surrendered  to  the  grim  monster  death.  All  the  men  loved 
Colonel  Statham  and  sorrowfully  gave  up  their  brigade  com- 
mander, and  while  they  deeply  mourned  his  departure,  they 
consoled  themselves  that  his  was  but  a  transfer  of  his  enroll- 
ment from  the  army  on  earth  to  the  one  in  the  beautiful  beyond. 

While  here  we  were  kept  busy  day  and  night  on  the  lookout 
for  first  one  thing  and  another.  The  enemy's  shells  annoyed 
us,  but  there  was  another  foe  we  had  to  contend  with,  more 
annoying  than  the  enemy's  shells — the  musquitoes,  or,  as  the 
boys  called  them,  "gallinippers."  Roll  up  in  your  blanket  ever 
so  well,  they  would  bite  you.  They  would  either  get  on  the 
blanket  with  you  and  roll  up  with  you,  or  they  would  bite  you 
through  all  the  folds.  The  boys  said  "gal  or  no  gal,  they  had  the 
nippers,"  and  right  well  did  they  ply  them.  There  were  barking 
lizards  and  other  curious  things.  When  we  first  moved  on  to 
the  hills  overlooking  the  river,  there  was  a  cluster  of  bushes 
near  by.  In  them  were  these  lizards,  and  they  would,  every 
now  and  then,  begin  to  yelp  just  like  puppies.  After  night  the 
enemy's  shells  were  more  entertaining  than  any  other  time, 
the  fuse  of  the  shells  could  be  seen  from  the  time  they  left  the 


58  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

gun  until  they  burst.  Often  six  or  eight  would  go  up  at  one 
time  following  each  other,  if  the  night  was  cloudy,  the  shells 
would  go  up  through  the  clouds  and  be  lost  to  sight  for  a  time. 
When  the  bursting  time  came  they  lost  all  their  beauty  for  the 
flying  pieces  of  shells  made  it  uncomfortable  and  dangerous. 

"THE  ARKANSAS  RAM." 

The  Arkansas  Ram,  a  gun-boat  of  which  notice  has  already 
been  made,  was  then  in  the  Yazoo  river  about  twenty  miles 
above  Vicksburg.  Her  sides,  top  and  bottom  were  of  railroad 
iron,  she  floated  deep  in  the  water,  was  well  equipped  with  large 
guns.  She  made  her  appearance  in  the  Mississippi  July  16th. 
To  get  into  Viccksburg  she  had  to  pass  the  upper  fleet.  Soon 
as  the  black  smoke  began  to  ascend  from  the  low  smoke  stack 
of  the  Ram,  and  was  seen  nearing  the  Mississippi  river,  a  small 
swift  steamer  belonging  to  the  enemy  that  had  been  for  some 
time  lying  in  wait,  watching  the  movements  of  the  Ram, 
turned  her  course  homeward  as  fast  as  the  current  of  the  river 
and  her  engines  could  propel  her,  to  give  warning  that  the  Ram 
was  coming.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  into  the  "Father 
of  waters"  she  came  midway  of  the  stream,  she  floated  quietly 
yet  defiantly  for  the  wharf  at  Vicksburg.  About  six  o'clock  in 
in  the  morning  she  came  in  sight  of  the  fleet  that  was  awaiting 
her  and  was  careful  to  give  ample  room.  The  enemy  was  en- 
thusiastic in  their  demonstrations  and  gave  the  Rani  loud  and 
continuous  salute.  The  Ram  was  as  courteous  and  returned 
the  fire  with  a  vim.  She  moved  slowly,  nor  turned  out  of 
her  way,  and  when  her  broadside  presented  to  their  boat  she 
gave  them  shot  after  shot  the  enemy  did  not  relish.  On  she 
came  triumphantly  into  court,  having  suffered  considerably 
from  the  enemy's  shot  and  shell,  and  with  her  crew  almost 
annihilated.  Having  lost  twenty-five  killed,  thirty  wounded. 
Hair,  brains  and  blood  were  strewn  everywhere  in  the  boat. 

James  Tyner,  who  was  just  only  fifteen  years  old  when  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  I,  was  given  an  honorable  discharge  by  Lieut. 
J.  E.  Wooding,  commanding  company.  Rev.  D.  Sullins,  Brig- 
adge  Quartermaster,  gave  him  transportation  home.  James 
Tyner  was  our  bass  drummer  and  while  he  made  a  good  and 
faithful  soldier,  yet  his  young  and  tender  age  forbid  his  remain- 
ing longer.  Lode  Walker,  Henry  and  Rufus  Staples,  of  Com- 
pany H,  were  transferred  to  other  companies  in  other  com- 
mands. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OUR  stay  in  Vicksburg  was,  for  us,  romantic  and  full  of 
thrilling  events,  though  some  of  them  were  of  too  shaky 
a  nature  to  be  pleasant.  Towards  the  close  of  our  stay 
here  nearly  all  the  men  contracted  chills,  which  constituted  the 
shaking  part  of  our  experience.  The  weather  was  very  hot  and 
sultry.  Dr.  Montgomery,  of  Mississippi,  assisted  our  surgeon, 
Dr.  Delaney,  and  had  charge  of  the  chill  department. 

Our  boys  began  to  be  homesick  and  long  to  leave  the  land 
of  flowers,  magnolias  and  chills,  but  no  furloughs  nor  transfers 
were  granted. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  death  of  Col.  W.  S.  Statham  oc- 
curred August  1st,  and  after  his  death,  Brig.  GTen.  Clark  took 
command  of  our  brigade.  The  next  day  after  Gen.  Clark  took 
command  orders  were  received  for  all  able  for  duty  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice  for 

BATON  KOUGE. 

A  good  number  of  our  men  were  chilling,  which  left  few 
able  to  respond  to  this  call.  Gen.  Breckenridge  left  for  Baton 
Rouge  with  two  divisions  of  two  brigades  each.  The  first  divis- 
ion was  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Clark,  and  was  composed  of 
the  second  and  fourth  brigade  and  commanded  respectively  by 
Col's  Hunt  and  Smith.  The  second  division  was  commanded 
by  Brig.  Gen.  Ruggle  and  was  composed  of  the  first  and  third 
brigades,  commanded  respectively  by  Col's  Allen  and  Thomp- 
son. We  had  with  our  brigade  two  guns  of  Henderson's  battery, 
one  gun  of  Cobb's  battery.  As  soon  as  Gen.  Breckenridge  left  for 
Baton  Rouge,  the  enemy's  lower  fleet  also  left  and  was  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  Arkansas  Ram.  We  reached  Baton  Rouge  late  in  the 
evening  of  the  fourth,  and  formed  our  lines  after  dark  with  Gen. 
Clark  on  our  right,  and  Gen.  Ruggle  on  the  left.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  5th,  Gen.  Clark  advanced  on  the  Grenwell  Spring 
road  and  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see,  Gen.  Ruggle 
opened  the  fight  by  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  pickets  and  soon 


60  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

his  whole  line  was  engaged.  He  soon  drove  the  enemy  from  all 
his  positions.  He  started  in  with  a  cheer  and  a  shout,  and  the 
little  army  moved  forward  with  the  impetus  courage  of  mighty 
force,  capturing  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Just  at  this  time  Col. 
Allen  fell,  loosing  both  legs  from  a  cannon  shot;  and  following 
this  very  soon  Col.  Thompson  was  wounded.  On  our  right 
Gen.  Clark  pressed  the  enemy  back  at  every  point,  but  was 
resisted  with  great  stubbornness.  After  several  hours  of  hard 
fighting  he  drove  the  enemy  back  to  his  encampment  in  a  large 
grove,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  State  penitentiary.  Here  the  bat- 
tle was  most  obstinate  and  fierce,  and  where  the  first  division 
suffered  the  greatest  loss.  Here  Col.  Hunt,  commanding  the 
second  brigade,  was  shot  down,  and  Gen.  Clark,  commanding 
the  division,  was  severely  wounded.  The  third  brigade  on  our 
left  having  exhausted  its  ammunition  was  ordered  to  fix  bayo- 
nets and  support  the  fourth  brigade  in  a  charge  with  bayonets. 
Our  whole  line  had  suffered  from  the  gunboats  until  we  had 
driven  the  enemy  in,  so  close  the  boats  could  do  us  no  harm.  It  was 
now  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  the  Arkansas  Ram,  which 
should  have  been  on  hand  and  putting  in  her  best  work,  had 
not  yet  opened  her  mouth.  At  half -past  ten,  when  our  men 
had  driven  the  enemy  from  their  last  encampment  in  the  grove1 
and  where  the  fight  was  a  bloody  one, 'they  broke  and  ran  down 
the  streets  followed  by  our  men  firing  on  them  at  every  step 
until  they  took  shelter  in  the  arsenal  and  barracks.  It  was  now 
noon,  and  our  men  exhausted  from  heat  and  thirst,  withdrew 
under  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy's  gunboats.  We  expected 
to  find  water  in  all  of  the  cisterns  but  were  disappointed,  and 
kept  on  in  search  of  it.  But  finding  none  we  returned  to 
the  front,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  scanty  supply  from  a 
few  cisterns.  All  this  time  the  boats  were  shelling  us,  but  here 
on  this  line  we  remained  until  nearly  night. 

Having  no  picks  and  shovels,  and  not  being  able  to  pro- 
cure any  in  the  city,  we  gave  up  the  field  with  its  dead  to  be 
buried  by  the  Federals. 

The  Ram  never  showed  up,  the  Captain  reported  that  the 
machinery  gave  out  and  could  not  be  worked — he  abandoned 
her,  then  blew  her  up. 

The  battle  of  Baton  Rouge  was  a  bloody  little  fight,  we 
moved  all  our  wounded  to  comfortable  quarters,  sending  to 
Jackson,  Miss.,  all  who  could  bear  moving,  leaving  the  dead  on 


BATON   ROUGE.  61 

the  field.  Breckenridge  had  but  a  small  force.  He  lost  one 
division  and  two  brigade  commanders  and  a  great  many  killed 
and  wounded. 

Of  the  Old  Nineteenth,  Thomas  White  was  wounded  through 
the  hips;  Lieut.  J.  M.  Sims  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  the  same 
leg  in  which  he  was  wounded  at  Shiloh ;  Emmett  White  was 
killed  in  this  battle;  Elbert  Roberts,  of  Knox  county,  Tenn., 
was  also  killed;  he  belonged  to  Ruggles'  command,  and  was  a 
kinsman  of  the  writer.  The  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee,  while 
she  could  not  boast  of  her  numbers  engaged,  could  boast  of  grit 
and  nerve,  for  many  of  our  regiment  were  barely  able  to  walk. 
Lieutenant  Etter  fought  through  this  battle  with  a  chill  on  him, 
shaking  so  he  could  hardly  go,  and  following  this  ague  was  a 
high  fever  and  intense  thirst,  yet  through  the  heat  of  the  day 
and  the  torture  of  this  chill  and  fever  he  never  left  the  ranks: 
All  of  the  sick  of  the  regiment  who  remained  in  camp  at  Vicks- 
burg  had  the  nerve  and  would  have  gone  into  this  fight,  but  did 
not  have  the  physical  strength.  Many  who  did  go,  ought  to 
have  remained  in  camp.  Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Baton 
Rouge,  Breckenridge  ordered  all  the  troops  who  remained  in 
Vicksburg  to  report  at  Jackson,  save  just  sufficient  force  to 
garrison  and  hold  the  forts.  So  when  we  returned  to  Jackson 
we  found  the  remainder  of  the  army  there.  While  here  at  Jack- 
son, Colonel  Cummings,  our  old  colonel,  visited  us  and  we  were 
right  glad  to  see  him  again  and  shake  his  hand.  General  Breck- 
enridge ordered  inscribed  on  the  flag  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  Ten- 
nessee regiment  the  names  of  all  the  battles  we  were  in,  viz : 
Fishing  Creek,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg  and  Baton  Rouge.  Verily, 
of  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment,  none  were  ashamed, 
but  all  were  proud  of  her  record. 

We  were,  and  had  been  encamped  around  Jackson  for  sev 
eral  days.  Since  we  started  out,  had  gone  'through  many  rough 
scenes,  and  many  had  been  pleasant.  We  would  have  enjoyed 
our  stay  in  Vicksburg  much  more  had  it  not  been  for  the  chills, 
yet  as  it  was,  our  soldiering  there  was  romantic  and  exciting. 
Gen.  Breckenridge  made  some  changes  in  our  brigade  which 
the  following  order  shows : 

General  Order, )  JACKSON,  Miss.,  PALMER  HOUSE, 

No.  23.  j  September,  7th,  1862. 

The  4th,  5th  and  6th  Kentucky  regiments,  and  Cobb's  bat 
tery  will  for  the  present,  constitute  a  brigade  under  the  com 
mand  of  Col.  R.  P.  Trabue  and  be  called  the  first  brigade. 


62  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

The  19th,  20th  and  45th  Tennessee  regiments  and  McClmig's 
battery,  will  form  another  brigade  under  the  command  of  Col. 
F.  M.  Walker,  and  be  called  the  second  brigade. 
By  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Breckenridge. 

JNO.  A.  BUCKNEK, 
Maj.  and  Asst.  Adj't.  G-en. 

Tn  this  reorganization  of  the  brigades,  the  Fifteenth  Missis- 
sippi, which  had  been  with  us  so  long,  ever  since  our  encamp- 
ment at  Cumberland  Ford,  Ky.,  sharing  our  joys  and  hardships 
on  all  our  long  marches,  standing  side  by  side  with  us  in  all 
battles,  journeying  with  us  over  mountains  and  through  val- 
leys, now  left  us,  and  we  bid  good-bye  to  our  old,  true  and  tried 
friends.  Also  the  Twenty-second  Mississippi,  that  fell  in  with 
us  at  the  organization  under  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnson  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tenn.  We  had  been  encamped  within  the  city  limits  for 
some  days,  but  on  the  8th  of  September  we  moved  out  six 
miles  from  Jackson,  where  we  adjusted  our  payrolls,  to  keep 
in  remembrance  that  there  was  such  a  thing  called  money. 

Here  we  drew  eleven  months'  pay,  clothing  and  provisions 
were  issued,  and  we  were  happy.  The  money  we  drew,  was  in 
uncut  sheets,  and  sixty  dollars  to  each  private.  The  paymas- 
ter's tent  was  one  mile  from  camp.  Jake  Willeford  who  had  a 
"chuck-a-luck"  bank  won  all  the  money  the  men  received  be- 
fore they  reached  camp.  All  the  sick,  unable  for  duty,  \V<MV 
sent  to  the  hospital  in  the  city,  where  J.  B.  Irwin  and  S.  M. 
Jenkins,  of  Company  F,  and  S.  W.  Riley,  of  Company  I,  died. 

Somehow  a  happy  infatuation  got  hold  of  us  just  now, 
rumor  was  rife  in  camp  that  we  were  on  the  eve  of  going  home. 
But  we  know 

"Rumor  is  a  pipe, 
Blown  by  surmise  and  conjecture 
Of  so  easy  and  so  plain  a  note, 
The  still  discordant  multitude 
Can  play  upon  it." 

While  we  were  enjoying  the  happy  thought  of  a  "Happy  home- 
ward bound,"   came  the  following  order: 

Special  Order,  I    HEADQUARTERS,  BRECKENRIDGE 's  DIVISION, 
No.  17.         j  JACKSON,  Miss.,  Sept.  9th,  1862. 

The  second  brigade  of  this  division  will  be  at  the  railroad 
station  in  Jackson,  and  under  command  of  Col.  F.  M.  Walker, 
will  move  at  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  and  take  the 


LIEUTENANT  H.  D.  HAWK. 

Lieutenant  Hawk  was  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Tenn.,  joined  (Company 
of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee,  in  June,  1861.  At  the  reorganization  at 
18(52,  he  was  elected  Third  Lieutenant  of  Company  G.  In  May 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenancy,  and  was  wounded  in  the  battle 
of  Chicamauga.  He  made  a  faithful  good  soldier  through  the  war  and  was  at 
the  last  roll  call  of  the  regiment  in  1865. 


BATON  ROUGE.  63 

cars  for  the  north.     The  commanding  officer  will  report  to  Brig. 
Gen.  Villipigue  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  (or  beyond  if  he  has 
moved)  until  the  arrival  of  the  Major  General  commanding  the 
division. 
By  order  of  Maj.  Gen.  Breckenridge. 

J.  L.  ROBERTSON, 
Capt.  and  Asst.  Adj't.  General. 

We  left  our  camp  the  morning  of  the  10th,  somewhat  dis- 
appointed, and  took  the  cars  for  Holly  Springs,  instead  of  for 
home.  We  started  out  in  one  of  the  hardest  rains  that  had 
fallen  on  us  in  Mississippi. 

It  seems  as  if  rain  was  one  of  the  concomitants  of  a  sol- 
dier's life.  We  boarded  an  old  cattle  train,  all  the  cars  were 
open  but  covered,  slatted  and  filthy  beyond  description .  We 
were  on  this  train  one  whole  day  and  night,  no  protection  from 
the  rain,  which  poured  down  on  us  all  the  way.  How  we  longed 
for  the  enjoyment  and  pleasure  of  walking  i  again.  The  only 
place  the  boys  could  lie  down,  was  on  top  of  the  cars,  where 
they  had  the  full  benefit  of  the  rain.  Inside  the  cars  was  almost 
too  filthy  to  even  stand.  We  finally  reached  Holly  Springs, 
and  got  off  the  cars,  wet,  muddy,  nasty  and  mad.  We  were 
not  to  be  envied  either  in  feelings  or  in  looks,  all  sleepy  and 
tired  out ;  and  if  we  had  been  attacked  by  the  enemy,  however 
small  the  force,  we  could  neither  have  fought  nor  run.  We 
moved  up  the  railroad  towards  Grand  Junction  one  mile  and 
encamped  on  a  small  stream  that  reminded  us  very  much  of 
Camp  Zollicoft'er  in  Kentucky,  where  just  one  year  ago  we  were. 
How  little  then  did  we  think  what  was  before  us ;  what  long 
marches  without  anything  to  eat,  and  the  sleepless  night 
watches  that  were  in  store  for  us.  The  work  of  the  inexorable 
"Fates,"  like  the  coral  builders,  was  unseen  yet  they  wove  for 
us  a  journey  rough  and  sure. 

It  is  well  we  cannot  lift  the  veil  and  see  the  coming  events. 

"If  this  were  so, 

How  many  viewing  their  progress  through, 
What  perils  to  come,  what  crosses  to  endure 
Would  shut  the  book  and  sit  him  down  to  die.,' 

After  completing  the  work  we  were  sent  here  to  do,  (and  I 
must  confess  there  was  nothing  here  for  us  to  do),  we  again 
took  the  cars  and  retured  to  Jackson;  but  we  did  not  stop, 
went  right  on  to  Meridian,  which  place  we  reached  September 


64  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

the  22d,  where  we  rested  for  a  few  days.  Here  Gen.  Brecken- 
ridge made  us  a  cheering,  patriotic  speech;  a  farewell,  for  he 
was  going  to  turn  us  over  to  another  command.  The  next 
morning  we  rceived  the  following  order : 

Special  Order, )    HEADQUARTERS,  BRECKENRIDGE'S  DIVISION, 
No.  27.          j          MERIDIAN,  Miss.,  Sept.  24th,  1862. 
Col.  F.  M.  Walker  will  move  with  his,  the  second  brigade, 
by  rail,  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  thence  to  Montgomery  and  to  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. ;  taking  his  tents,  ammunition  and  fifteen  days' 
rations. 
By  order  of  Maj.  Gen.  Breckenridge. 

JOHN  A.  BUCKNER, 
Maj.  and  Asst.  Adj't.  General. 

This  "was  the  last  order  Gen.  Breckenridge  ever  gave  our 
brigade.  We  bade  him  adieu.  Again  we  boarded  the  cars, 
this  time  for  home.  Our  boys  were  happy,  some  danced,  some 
sang  "Homeward  bound"  and  all  felt  jolly. 

Just  before  the  train  pulled  out  from  Meridian,  in  the  car 
in  which  the  writer  was,  all  were  jolly,  eating  and  dancing  in 
turn,  when  one  of  our  number  tell  over  dead.  Our  dancing  was 
cut  short  and  a  pall  of  sadness  mantled  our  jollification.  Andrew 
Flenor,  of  Company  C,  was  sitting  down  eating,  when  suddenly 
he  fell  over  dead.  We  supposed  he  had  choked  to  death.  Poor 
Andrew  had  leceived  his  furlough  home  to  return  no  m6re. 
His  brother  Pete  preceded  him  but  a  few  months,  having  died 
at  Corinth  just  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  was  gently  lifted 
from  the  car  and  with  sorrowing  hearts  we  left  him  in  Meridian. 
It  seemed  more  sad  than  had  he  been  killed.  At  the  very  acme 
of  his  joys  of  soon  seeing  home  and  being  with  loved  ones 
again,  he  yielded  to  a  higher  mandate.  This  was  the  first  death 
of  the  kind  in  our  regiment,  and  it  seemed  to  weigh  upon  the 
hearts  of  the  boys  more  than  had  he  fallen  in  battle. 

We  moved  out  for  Mobile  and  did  not  make  any  halt  longer 
than  to  get  aboard  the  steamer,  and  on  our  way  across  the  bay 
a  soldier  fell  overboard  and  was  lost.  He  disappeared  before 
succor  could  reach  him.  Brave  comrade,  we  can  not  follow 
thee  with  solemn  tread  and  funeral  march  to  the  grave,  but  we 
can  sing: 

"Sleep,  we  give  thee  to  the  wave 
Red  with  life's  blood  from  the  brave. 
Fare  thee  well!'' 


HOMEWAKD    BOUND.  65 

So,  one  by  one,  our  ranks  are  thinning.  In  battle  array,  or 
the  quiet  camp,  death  is  claiming  all,  his  own,  and  soon  the 
soldiers'  big  roll-call  will  be  on  the  other  shore,  where  the 
beautiful  bivouac  will  never  break  up. 

We  landed  from  the  steamer  at  the  wharf  in  the  city  of 
Tensas,  where  we  took  the  cars  for  Montgomery,  through  which 
we  passed  without  halting,  and  on  to  West  Point  where  we 
remained  for  a  few  days.  Leaving  here  we  passed  through 
Atlanta,  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  on  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  where  we 
arrived  September  30th,  1862,  after  a  long  and  tedious  journey 
with  exposure  and  anxious  waiting  at  almost  every  station  on 
the  way.  It  seemed  when  we  were  in  the  biggest  hurry,  the 
slower  was  our  progress,  and  we  seemed  to  halt  by  the  way  for 
the  least  trivial  excuse.  It  seemed  the  great  anxiety  for  our 
reaching  home,  was  the  burden  that  retarded  our  speed.  But 
after  all  we  arrived  at  Knoxville,  and  our  regiment  was  given  a 
six  days'  furlough.  At  Dalton,  Ga.,  our  regiment  left  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade,  the  20th,  28th,  and  45th  Tennessee 
regiments  went  on  to  Chattanooga. 

At  Knoxville  our  men  separated,  and  each  one  went  to  his 
respective  home,  to  be  greeted  by  loved  ones  and  welcomed  by 
friends,  and  too,  we  can  say  with  none  the  less  joy,  by  the  old 
faithful  watch-dog. 

"It  was  sweet  to  hear  the  watch-dog's  honest  bark 
Bay  deep-mouthed  welcome  as  we  drew  near  home, 

And  sweet  to  know  an  eye  would  watch  our  coming 
And  grow  the  brighter  when  we  come." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

AT   HOME   AGAIN. 

WHAT  a  joy  to  be  at  home.  More  than  a  year  had  gone  by, 
months  of  danger,  of  anxious  waiting  by  loved  ones  at 
home.  Reader,  did  time  ever  fly  more  rapidly  with  you 
at  one  time  more  than  another  f  If  so,  you  can  appreciate, 
when  we  say  we  had  scarcely  finished  shaking  hands  of  wel- 
come until  the  good-bye,  "God  bless  you,"  were  ringing  in  our 
ears.  How  quickly  these  six  days  went  by.  They  were  gone 
and  as  the  camp  may  be  called  the  home  of  the  soldier  it  can  be 
said,  again  the  boys  are  gathering  home.  Our  camp  was  at 
Knoxville  and  where  we  awaited  orders.  No  doubt  many  re- 
luctantly gave  up  the  comforts  around  the  old  hearth-stones, 
for  the  cold  camp-fires  and  rigid  discipline  of  army  life.  "But 
duty  calls,  and  we  must  go." 

Officers  as  well  as  men  came  in  slowly  and  not  near  all  had 
come  in  when  we  received  orders  to  move  out  for  London .  We 
left  Knoxville  the  15th  of  October,  1862,  and  reached  London, 
where  we  remained  for  a  few  days  and  where  all  the  men  came 
up.  Col.  F.  M.  Walker  had  been  assigned  to  duty  somewhere 
else,  and  Lieut.  Col.  B.  F.  Moore  was  in  command  of  the  reg- 
iment. Colonel  Moore  was  a  strict  disciplinarian;  he  never 
issued  an  order  but  what  he  intended  it  to  be  carried  out.  One 
night  he  went  out  and  around  in  rear  of  the  sentinel  post  below 
the  bridge  overlooking  the  river  and  threw  a  rock  or  two  near 
where  the  sentinel  stood,  to  attract  his  attention,  then  went  up 
to  the  sentinel.  The  sentinel  saw  who  it  was,  but  permitted  the 
colonel  to  come  on  without  a  challenge.  The  colonel  called  the 
corporal  of  the  guard  and  had  the  sentinel  relieved  and  put 
under  arrest.  The  next  morning  the  colonel  released  the  pris- 
oner with  a  reprimand  and  told  him  to  do  so  no  more.  We  left 
Loudon  October  30th,  and  passing  on  through  Chattanooga,  did 
not  stop  until  we  reached  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  where  we  remained 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  J.  G.  DEADRICK. 

Colonel  James  G.  Deadrick  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  April,  1838. 
He  joined  Company  B,  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate  regiment,  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  regiment  at  Knoxville,  in  June,  1861,  was  elected  Third 
Lieutenant  of  the  company.  At  the  reorganization,  in  1862,  he  was  elected 
Captain  of  the  company.  In  1863  he  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the  regiment, 
and  at  the  close  of  Hood's  campaign  into  Tennessee  he  was  made  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  regiment. 


AT   HOME   AGAIN.  67 

one  week.  Leaving  here,  our  next  objective  point  was  War- 
trace,  where  we  remained  but  one  week.  As  this  was  not  to  be 
a  resting  place  for  us,  we  shouldered  our  knapsacks  and  guns 
and  counted  the  cross-ties  between  this  place  and  Shelbyville, 
where  we  halted  but  a  few  days. 

Now  getting  into  the  habit  of  moving  like  the  gypsies,  we 
packed  and  unpacked  almost  daily.  From  here  we  moved  to 
Eaglesville,  around  which  place  we  lay  for  several  days,  inspect- 
ing arms,  drilling  and  hunting  hickory  nuts,  of  which  there 
were  plenty.  While  here,  Colonel  Walker  came  to  us,  having 
been  gone  ever  since  our  return  from  Vicksburg.  We  were  all 
glad  to  see  him,  and  the  boys  gathered  around  him  and  shook 
his  hand,  giving  him  three  hearty  cheers  as  a  warm  welcome. 
Leaving  here,  we  moved  nearer  Murfreesboro,  which  now 
seemed  to  be  the  center  of  attraction  for  both  armies.  Here 
our  regiment  was  placed  in  a  new  brigade  and  a  new  division. 
We  were  put  in  Brigadier-General  Stewart's  brigade,  Cheat- 
ham's  division  and  General  Folk's  corps. 

General  Folk's  corps  was  as  follows: 

CORPS. 
Lieutenant-General  L.  Polk. 

DIVISION. 
Major-General  B.  F.  Cheatham. 

BEIGADES. 

Donelson's,  Maney's,   Stewart's,  Smith's. 

STEWART'S  BRIGADE. 

Fourth  and  Fifth  Tennessee,  Col.  O.  F.  Strahl. 
Nineteenth  Tennessee,  Col.  F.  M.  Walker. 
Twenty-Fourth  Tennesssee,  Col.  J.  A.  Wilson. 
Thirty-First  Tennessee,  Col.  E.  E.  Tansil. 
Thirty-Third  Tennessee,  Col.  W.  J.  Jones. 
Stafford's  Battery. 

The  Federal  General,  Rosecrans,  who  was  now  at  Nash- 
ville seemed  to  be  making  Murfreesboro  the  focus  of  his  vision. 
Like  two  angry  clouds  approaching  each  other  to  meet  in  a  ter- 
rific storm  these  two  mighty  forces,  Bragg's  and  Rosecrans's 
were  about  to  meet  in  clash  of  arms. 

Gen.  Rosecrans  left  Nashville  December  27th,  with  about 
65,000  men  and  approached  Murfreesboro  in  three  columns,  and 


68  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

on  three  different  roads,  as  rapidly  as  the  roads  and  circum- 
stances would  allow,  in  order  to  reach  Stone  river  and  form 
his  lines  before  Bragg,  with  his  40,000  men  could  get  ready  for 
an  attack.  But  being  met  at  every  turn  of  the  road  by  the 
Confederate  cavalry,  he  did  not  reach  the  battlefield  until  the 
evening  of  the  30th,  where  he  found  Bragg  seated  amid  the 
cedars  and  rocks  some  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  awaiting  him. 

THE   BATTLEFIELD. 

The  battlefield  lies  between  Stone  river  on  the  east,  Overall 
creek  on  the  west  and  the  Franklin  or  Triune  pike  on  the  south, 
while  the  river  and  creek  formed  the  northern  boundary. 

The  river  in  front  of  Murfreesboro  ran  due  north  for  a  short 
distance,  then  its  course  was  northwest.  The  ground  within 
this  boundary  is  very  broken  with  large  bowlders  and  ledges  of 
rocks  projecting  three  or  four  feet  in  some  places,  while  thick 
clusters  of  shaggy  cedars  covered  the  whole  ground,  except 
where  the  absence  of  rock  admitted  of  a  clearing.  Running 
across  this  battlefield  were  several  pikes  and  dirt  roads  leading 
into  town. 

Rosecrans  formed  his  lines  with  his  right  wing,  under  Mc- 
Cook,  resting  on  the  Triune  pike  near  Overall  creek  and  run- 
ning north-east  to  the  Wilkerson  pike,  there  joining  Thomas, 
who  formed  and  held  the  center  and  whose  line  extended  on  to 
the  Nashville  pike.  Crittenden  occupied  the  left  and  extended 
down  the  river. 

Bragg  formed  his  line  with  McCown's  and  Cleburn's  divis- 
ions of  Hardee's  corps  on  our  left,  with  Folk's  corps  forming 
the  center  and  extending  to  the  river.  Breckenridge  crossed 
the  river  and  formed  on  the  north  bank.  Cheathan  formed  his 
line  just  in  the  rear  of  Cleburn,s  and  Wither's  divisions.  Our 
line  ran  principally  through  the  cedars  and  rocks,  and  this  cold 
winter  evening,  when  all  nature  ^presented  a  dreary  outlook, 
these  thick  cedars  and  bowlders  seemed  to  cast  a  double  mantle 
of  dreariness  over  every  thing.  Yet  on  this  Tuesday  evening  of 
December  the  30th,  when  the  two  lines  of  battle  lay  in  waiting 
for  each  other,  there  occurred  an  incident  in  which  both  armies 
took  a  part,  and  which  is  not  often  recorded  in  the  history  of 
battles.  With  us  both  armies  spoke  the  same  language,  learned 
the  same  tunes  and  played  the  same  airs.  The  officers  of  each 
army  were  graduates  from  the  same  school,  and  many  of  them 


HOME   EEFLECTIONS.  69 

were  schoolmates.  It  was  like  diamond  cut  diamond.  The 
night  before  the  battle,  after  the  bads  had  finished  their  usual 
evening  serenade,  after  the  sounds  of  the  last  piece  were 
dying  away  in  the  distance,  a  Federal  band  struck  up  slow  and 
softly. 

"HOME,  SWEET  HOME." 

Out  in  the  darkness  of  this  cold  December  night,  amidst  the 
dense  cedars  and  rough  bowlders  along  the  banks  of  Stone 
river, 

"Whose  sad,  slow  stream,  its  noisless  flood 

Poured  o'er  the  glancing  pebbles 
All  silent  now,  the  Federals  stood, 

All  silent  stood  the  Rebels. 
No  heart  or  soul  had  heard  unmoved 

That  plaintive  note's  appealing, 
So  sweetly,  'Home,  Sweet  Home'  but  stirred 

The  hidden  fount  of  feeling." 

Reader,  I  tell  you  this  was  a  soul-stirring  piece.  During 
the  stillness  of  the  night,  each  soldier  of  both  armies,  was  hold- 
ing communion  with  his  own  soul,  his  mind  occupied  with  the 
thought  of  what  to-morrow  would  bring,  whether  wounds  or 
death,  and  would  he  ever  see  home  again,  when  the  notes  of 
this  inspiring  tune  came  floating  on  the  stillness  of  the  night. 
Immediately  a  Confederate  band  caught  up  the  strain,  then 
one  after  another  until  all  the  bands  of  each  army  were  playing 
"Home,  Sweet  Home."  And  after  our  bands  had  ceased  play- 
ing, we  could  hear  the  sweet  refrain  as  it  died  away  on  the  cool, 
frosty  air  on  the  Federal  side.  What  a  thrill  of  memories  was 
brought  to  the  minds  of  all  that  night. 

Who  knows  what  a  stimulus  this  "Home,  Sweet  Home"  gave 
each  one  the  next  morning  in  battle.  And  as  the  niinnie  balls 
and  grape  sounded  the  early  reveille  next  morning,  each  thought 
it  was  for  home  and  country. 

During  the  night  of  the  30th,  Gen.  Crittenden  crossed  a 
part  of  Wood's  division  to  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  under 
the  impression  that  Bragg  had  withdrawn  his  men  from  that 
side.  But  after  crossing  he  found  too  many  Confederates  to 
ivst  comfortably,  so  he  withdrew  under  cover  of  night  and 
bivouaced  with  the  other  part  of  his  division. 

Earley  Wednesday  morning,  about  seven  o'clock,  Hardee 
with  McCown's  division,  closely  followed  by  Cleburne,  opened 
the  attack.  Bursting  through  the  thick  cedars  they  fell  upon 


BATTLE   OF   MURFREESBORO.  71 

Johnson  and  Davis  of  McCook's  corps,  like  an  avalanche, 
before  they  were  aware  of  his  coming,  while  the  invincible 
Cheatham  moved  forward  upon  McCook's  center,  and  drove 
him  from  his  stronghold  and  first  position.  The  Federals  had 
a  battery  concealed  behind  a  cluster  of  cedars  on  a  dirt  road 
running  between  the  pikes  which  raked  our  line  but  failed  to 
check  our  advance.  Our  regiment  had  advanced  to  a  tempo- 
rary breastwork  of  loose  stones  made  by  the  enemy  during  the 
night  before,  and  halted  for  a  few  minutes,  when  a  shell  from 
this  concealed  battery  struck  the  rock  wall,  bursting,  killed  one 
and  wounded  six  others  of  Company  I,  of  the  Old  Nineteenth 
Tennessee.  From  this  position,  our  whole  line  again  moved  for- 
ward to  the  enemy's  second  line  where  the  two  armies  came 
hand  to  hand  in  a  musket  fire  that  was  destructive  to  friend 
and  foe  alike.  The  enemy  strengthened  their  line  here  by  re- 
inforcement, but  they  could  not  withstand  the  impetuous  rush  of 
Hardee  and  Cheatham,  who  broke  their  lines  again,  killed  their 
artillery  horses  and  captured  three  pieces  of  artillery  which  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment.  These 
pieces  of  artillery  were  supposed  to  have  been  the  concealed 
battery  from  which  came  the  fatal  shot  to  Company  I  at  the 
rock  wall.  In  this  charge  the  color-bearer  was  shot  down,  and 
as  the  colors  were  falling  Corporal  Mason,  of  the  color  guard, 
seized  them  and  bore  them  aloft  as  a  beacon  for  the  regiment 
through  the  storm  of  battle.  Mason  was  of  Company  K,  a 
brave,  daring  fellow,  who  never  let  the  colors  lag. 

The  Federal  General  Post  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  turn 
our  advance,  for  a  while  held  us  in  check,  but,  his  men  falling 
all  around  him,  his  gunners  dead,  his  horses  killed  and  guns 
silenced,  was  forced  back  to  a  line  of  fences  where  was  estab- 
lished one  of  their  field  hospitals  which  was  soon  in  our  posses- 
sion. Gaining  this  point  Hardee's  and  part  of  Folk's  lines 
faced  due  north,  having  swung  around  on  a  pivot,  resting  near 
the  Nashville  pike,  forming  a  right  angle  with  their  first  line  in 
the  morning.  After  driving  Rosecrans'  right  around,  Folk's 
whole  command  moved  against  Sherman.  Here  Cheatham's 
division  again  bravely  faced  a  shower  of  shot  shrapnel  that 
thinned  his  ranks  fearfully,  but  he  drove  Sherman  back  and 
took  possession  of  his  line,  and  finding  himself  exposed  to  a 
hotter  and  a  more  deadly  fire,  fell  back.  In  this  charge  the  Old 
Nineteenth  lost  some  of  her  best  men.  Here  Major  Jarnagin, 
Capt.  J.  G.  Frazier,  Lieutenant  Abernathy  and  many  others 


72  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

were  killed.  Major  Jarnagin  served  the  first  year  as  a  private, 
was  faithful,  always  ready  where  and  whenever  duty  called. 
At  the  reorganization  at  Corinth,  R.  J.  Jarnagin  was  made 
Major  of  the  regiment,  was  a  noble  officer,  a  brave  soldier, 
although  small  in  stature  was  every  inch  a  man.  The  regiment 
sustained  a  loss  in  the  death  of  Major  Jarnagin  that  would  be 
hard  to  fill;  was  liked  by  all,  kind  and  generous.  Here  Lieuten- 
ant Sims  caught  it  again,  a  ball  hit  the  top  of  his  head  knock- 
ing him  down  but  was  not  dangerously  wounded.  Many  others 
were  killed  and  wounded  in  this  battle.  A  part  of  Wither's 
division  came  to  our  assistance  and  we  held  our  position. 

Here  Col.  Loomis  of  Wither's  division  was  so  badly  hurt 
by  the  falling  of  a  limb  cut  by  a  shell  that  he  had  to  be  carried 
from  the  field.  Shot  and  shell  were  flying  thick  and  fast,  the 
artillery  fire  very  heavy.  The  Federal  General  Sill,  in  a  wild 
and  excited  attempt  to  drive  Cheatham  back,  fell  in  his  heroic 
charge  near  our  regiment,  killed.  The  battle  waxed  hotter  and 
in  the  center  the  struggle  was  most  stubborn.  On  our  left  Mc- 
Cown  and  Cleburne  again  pressed  McCook  and  threatened  Thom- 
as's rear  causing  him  to  fall  back,  and  in  doing  so  an  Indiana 
regiment  in  crossing  a  small  clearing  was  almost  annihilated, 
judging  from  the  number  of  men  left  in  the  clearing.  Night 
came  and  put  an  end  to  the  first  day's  fight.  In  the  fight  to-day 
the  Old  Nineteenth  suffered  more  than  any  other  regiment  in 
the  brigade,  her  loss  being  double  that  of  any  other.  In  one 
of  the  engagements  the  regiment  halted  in  the  edge  of  a  cedar 
bottom,  Orderly  Sergeant  Joseph  Thompson,  of  Company  I, 
ran  forward  far  out  in  the  clearing  and  captured  a  prisoner.  As 
he  was  returning  with  him,  the  prisoner  was  killed  by  a  piece 
of  shell,  Thompson  returned  and  captured  another  and  brought 
him  out  safely.  During  the  entire  day's  struggle  the  banner  of 
the  Old  Nineteenth  could  be  seen  fluttering  in  the  breeze  in  the 
fiercest  of  the  battle  and  the  hardest  of  the  strife.  To-day 
many  of  the  noble  old  regiment  gave  their  lives  as  a  sacrifice 
to  the  God  of  War.  During  the  day  Bragg  drove  the  enemy 
from  nearly  every  position  he  held,  captured  thirty-one  pieces 
of  artillery  and  four  thousand  prisoners,  including  two  Briga- 
dier Generals,  and  two  hundred  wagons  and  teams.  For  three 
miles  or  nearly,  now  in  our  rear  amidst  the  thick  cedars  and 
bowlders,  beginning  with  their  first  line  in  the  morning,  their 
dead,  wounded,  their  field  hospitals,  guns,  knapsacks,  broken 


BATTLE    OF   MUKFKEESBORO.  73 

ambulances  showed  clearly  the  victorious  advance  of  our  men, 
who  bivouaced,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  railroad,  be- 
hind which  embankment  the  enemy  took  shelter.  As  the  old 
year  was  dying,  she  passed  away  amidst  the  roar  of  cannon  and 
the  clash  of  arms,  that  shook  the  very  foundation  upon  which 
the  city  of  Murfreesboro  stood.  The  night  that  followed  was 
lonely  and  dark,  and  there  were  no  flickering  camp  fires  to  be 
seen,  although  the  night  was  damp  and  chilly.  There  wasbut  little 
moving  of  troops  and  what  there  was,  was  done  in  silence.  The 
old  iron-mouth  cannon  seemed  to  be  asleep,  for  silence  reigned 
supreme.  We  lay  all  night  with  a  feeling  of  loneliness  as  if  all 
were  dead  but  ourselves,  knowing  that  although  the  cedars  and 
rocks  were  lying  thousands  of  friends  and  foes  alike  unconcious 
in  that  sleep  from  which  the  morning  reveillee  will  not  awake 
them.  There  were  many  wounded  too  who  had  not  been  cared 
for,  suffering  not  only  from  wounds  but  from  cold.  Oh !  The 
deep,  anxious  reverie  of  the  soul  in  such  an  hour  as  this,  none 
but  those  who  have  gone  through  it  can  tell.  The  grey  dawn 
of  another  day  and  of  another  new  year  as  well,  was  welcomed 
indeed,  as  it  came  creeping  slowly  upon  us  like  the  vanguard 
of  a  mighty  army  on  its  foe.  It  was  relief.  It  came  not  to 
arouse  us  from  slumber  for  we  supposed  but  few  closed  their 
eyes  in  sleep  that  night.  But  it  lifted  the  deep  dread  that  had 
settled  like  a  pall  over  the  soul. 

The  morning  found  our  lines  pretty  much  the  same  they 
were  the  evening  before.  Rosecrans  had  improved  his,  had 
dropped  back  from  "Round  Forest,"  a  point  on  his  line  be- 
tween the  railroad  and  the  river,  he  had  occupied  the  evening 
before  a  hill  farther  back  and  also  down  the  river.  The  next 
day  the  enemy  maneuvered  his  troops  considerably.  He 
crossed  the  river  with  one  or  two  divisions  of  Crittenden's 
corps,  and  a  battery  of  twelve  guns,  to  the  north  side  and  in 
front  of  Breckenridge,  Hardee  still  held  the  left.  Hardee,  the 
day  before,  had  some  of  Breckenridge 's  men  and  he  had  sent 
them  around  to  him  early  in  the  morning.  Polk  still  in  the  cen- 
ter gazing  at  the  iron-crested  hill  in  front  of  him  whose  fifty 
mounted  "War  Dogs"  stood  ready  to  be  turned  loose  on  him  at 
the  first  move  he  made. 

As  old  "Sol"  continued  driving  his  fiery  chariot  up  the 
eastern  horizon,  the  armies  still  remained  silent,  looking  at 
each  other  like  two  mastiffs  after  a  hard  tussle,  debating  whether 


74  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

to  open  again  the  battle  or  not.  The  afternoon  passed  with 
little  more  than  skirmishing  between  the  pickets,  and  the  dark- 
ness of  another  night  settled  everything  into  a  quiet  sleep. 
The  next  morning,  the  third  day,  all  was  activity  and  life. 
There  were  moving  of  troops  and  artillery.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  the  evening  Breckenridge  charged  Beatty  in  front  of  him, 
driving  them  from  their  position  and  across  the  river.  Here  the 
fifty  guns  massed  on  the  hill  opened  upon  him  a  perfect  tor- 
nado of  iron  hail  that  literally  cut  down  his  men  like  grass.  In 
this  charge  General  Hanson  was  killed  and  General  Adams  was 
wounded.  The  fight  was  short,  but  Breckenridge  loosing  so 
many  of  his  men  from  the  battary  across  the  river  he  fell  back. 
This  ended  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro.  Hardee  and  Polk, 
since  the  morning  of  the  second  day,  had  gained  no  new  posi- 
tion. During  the  second  and  third  day  Bragg  was  busy  in  getting 
the  spoils  from  the  field  and  in  caring  for  the  dead  and  wounded. 
Bragg's  loss  in  this  battle  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured,  was 
14,560.  Rosecrans'  loss  was  11,578.  Bragg  abandoned  Mur- 
freesburo  Saturday  night  by  sending  off  the  infantry  but  leav- 
ing the  cavalry  to  occupy  the  town  until  Monday  morning  Jan. 
5th,  1863. 

Our  loss  in  this  engagement  was  very  heavy  in  killed  and 
wounded.  We  were  not  very  successful  in  getting  the  names 
of  our  regiment  who  suffered.  There  were  always  difficulties  in 
the  way,  having  too  much  to  do  and  could  not  get  the  reports. 
Our  regiment  had  38  killed  and  111  wounded.  The  captured  we 
did  not  learn. 

KILLED. 
JAENAGIN,    MAJ.   E.   A. 

Burkheart,  William.. . .  Co.  A  Elllison,  A.  J Co.  F 

Childress,  D.  M "  "  Skelton,  H.  H "  " 

Curran,  O.  S "  "  McKissack,  J.  R "  " 

McGhee,  J.  M "  "  Williams,  P.  A "  " 

Brown,  Corp.  Glebe....   "  B  Hamilton,  S.  Rhea. ...    "  G 

Foster,  Samuel "  "  Tipton,  J.  A "  " 

Aikin,S.B "  "  Bowles,D.R "  " 

Gaby,Cris "  "  Barger,  J.  R "  " 

Roller,  George "  C  Wayler,  Jackson "  " 

Erps,  Adrin "  "  Kincaid,  Pat "  H 

Gaby,  John "  "  Smith,  Thomas "  " 

Keller,  Geo.  W "  "  Stansbery,  Y.  A "  " 


BATTLE    OF   MURFREESBORO. 


75 


Easterly,  Jno.  L Co.  C 

Frazier,  Capt.  J.  S "    D 

Rhea,  William "     " 

Abernathy,  Lieut.  S.B.  "    E 

Earnest,  Ed "     " 

Swan,  J.  H "     " 


Archer,  Wm.  A Co.  H 


The  one  at  rock  wall . . 

Marshall,  E.  W 

Wax.  William 

Miller,  Charles 

Fudge,  Charles 


I 

K 


Sloan,  J.  H Co.  E. 

WOUNDED. 


Hutson,  Andy Co.  B 


Smith,  John , 

Burnett,  Frank  — 
Holly,  William. . . . 
Colville,  E.  W.... 
Brataber,  John  . . . 
Carson,  Samuel. . . 

Loftis,  D.  W 

McClarin,  Jasper. . 

Mitchell,  John 

Kincaid,  Creed. . . . 
Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M 

Rhea,  Wm.  R 

Ford,  Martin 

Roller,  David 


C 


D 


E 
F 
G 


Russell,  W.  R Co.  G 

Ford,  Alfred "  " 

Horn,  Simeon "  " 

Hilton,  James ''  G 

Cresswell,  Van "  " 

Hale,  Elija ' 

Strange,  James '  H 

Basket,  John "  " 

Grogan,  Washington..  ' 

Alexander,  Thomas ' 

Six  wounded  at  wall . . .  '  I 

Huffmaster,  Capt  J.  H.  "  K 

Miller,  Lieut.  W.  B....  "  " 

Jackson,  E.  H "  " 

Carmack,  John "  " 


CHAPTER  X. 

\  FTER  Bragg  had  removed  all  the  wounded  that  could  be 
_/\  moved,  all  the  spoils  and  army  stores,  he  moved  out  from 
Murfreesboro.  Gen.  Polk  went  out  on  the  Shelbyville 
pike,  Hardee  on  the  Manchester  pike  and  Breckenridge  fur- 
ther on  to  our  right  in  the  direction  of  Tullahoma.  On  this 
chain  of  ridges  Bragg  formed  his  line  of  defense,  and  where 
we  remained  all  winter.  But  little  was  done  other  than  drill 
and  picket  duty.  After  we  had  settled  down  in  camp  changes 
were  made  in  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  January  the  sixth, 
First  Lieutenant,  J.  C.  Hammer,  Co.  B,  resigned,  and  Second 
Lieutenant,  R.  J.  Tipton  was  made  first  lieutenant;  Third 
Lieutenant,  T.  M.  Brabson  was  made  second  lieutenant,  and 
A.  C.  Smith  made  third  lieutenant.  In  Co.  D,  First  Lieut- 
enant, S.  J.  A.  Frazier  was  made  captain  in  place  of  J.  G.  Fra- 
zier,  killed  at  Murfreesboro.  In  Co.  E,  Second  Lieutenant, 
H.  A.  Waller  was  made  first  lieutenant  in  place  of  Lieutenant 
S.  B.  Abernathy,  killed,  and  Jake  L.  Waller  was  made  second 
lieutenant.  For  a  short  time  our  encampment  was  below  and 
across  Duck  river  from  Shelbyville.  From  this  place  we  mov- 
ed nearer  to  Eagleville  where  we  had  encamped  once  before, 
remaining  but  a  short  time,  we  moved  to  the  pike  about  nine 
miles  from  Shelbyville.  Soon  after  coming  to  this  encamp 
ment,  Brig.  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart  was  taken  from  the  command 
of  our  brigade  and  put  in  command  of  General  McCown's  div- 
ision. 

Col.  O.  F.  Strahl  was  given  command  of  the  brigade  ;  the 
following  order  explains  the  change : 

Special  Order  j  HEADQUAKTERS  ARMY  TENNESSEE, 

No.  52.        j  TULLAHOMA,  TENN.,  Feb.  27,  1863. 

4th.  Maj.  Gen.  J.  P.  McCown,  provisional  army,  is  placed 
in  arrest  and  charges  preferred  against  him  and  he  will  proceed 
to  Chattanooga  and  await  orders.  5th.  Brig.  Gen.  A.  P. 


CHANGES   IN   OFFICEKS.  77 

Stewart,  provisional  army,  is  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
division  of  which  Maj.  General  McCown  is  relieved,  and  will 
constitute  a  part  of  Lieut.  General  Folk's  corps. 
By  command  of  General  Bragg. 

KINLOCH  FALKNEK, 

Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

Captain  W.  C.  Harvey  of  Co.  C,  resigned  and  Second 
Lieutenant  A.  W.  Smith  was  made  captain.  Lieut.  Smith  was 
promoted  over  M.  J.  Miles,  first  lieutenant,  and  the  Third 
Lieut.  Miles  was  made  second  lieutenant,  and  D.  W.  Gammon 
was  made  third  lieutenant. 

April  5th,  Captain  C.  W.  Heiskell,  of  Co.  K,  was  promoted 
to  Major  of  the  regiment,  in  the  place  of  R.  A.  Jarnagin  killed. 
First  Lieut.  J.  H.  Huffinaster  was  made  captain;  W.  W.  Etter 
went  up  to  first  lieutenant;  W.  B.  Miller  was  made  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  C.  C.  Spears  was  made  third  lieutenant. 

J.  K.  P.  Gammon,  second  lieutenant  of  Co.  G,  was  elected 
Major  of  the  63rd  Tenn.  and  on  May  the  2nd  left  us  for  his  new 
command.  Lieut.  H.  D.  Hawk  was  promoted  to  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  J  H.  Rhea  was  made  third  lieutenant.  During  all 
these  months  our  regiment  had  not  been  out  of  sight  of  the 
pike  but  once,  and  then  only  for  a  few  days.  At  this  time  a 
spirit  of  revival  seemed  to  spread  over  our  entire  division. 
Rev.  J.  B.  McFerrin,  of  Nashville,  preached  for  us  several 
times,  for  some  time  now  we  had  scarcely  thought  of  war  save 
only  when  we  were  at  the  front  on  picket  duty.  Our  time  had 
been  occupied  in  drilling  both  in  regimental  and  brigade,  in- 
spections, dress  parade  and  our  big  revivals. 

DEATH  SENTENCE  OF  PRUITT. 

One,  Nathaniel  Pruitt,  of  Co.  H,  was  court-martialed  for 
desertion  and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  This  was  the  first  and  last 
death  sentence  ever  passed  upon  one  of  the  Old  Nineteenth. 
June  10th  was  set  for  the  execution,  but  through  the  influence  of 
Col.  Walker  and  Maj.  Heiskell,  Pruitt  was  reprieved.  He  was 
brought  out  from  prison  to  an  old  field  near  the  command;  his 
coffin  placed  in  front  of  the  open  grave  and  he  knelt  behind  it. 
The  guards  were  drawn  up  and  made  ready,  when  his  reprieve 
came  and  he  was  released.  He  deserted  the  next  night,  and 
fortunately  for  him,  was  never  caught. 


78  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

So  far,  the  months  had  dragged  wearily  on  with  but  little 
excitement ;  some  of  our  regiment  died  while  here,  one  of  spi- 
nal meningitis. 

Martin  Con  well  of  Co.  G,  and  0.  M.  Humphreys  of  Co.  B; 
J.  J.Payne  and  Felix  Lauderback  of  Co.  K,  also  died. 

While  on  picket  duty  Lieut.  R.  G.  Rhea,  of  Co.  F,  was 
killed;  J.  J.  Ford,  of  Co.  G,  wounded,  and  Lieut.  A.  W.  Smith 
was  captured. 

.  About  June  the  fifteenth  (15th)  the  Federals  began  to  make 
the  front  all  along  the  line  more  lively.  They  began  to  press 
our  front,  and  we  strengthened  our  pickets.  Videttes  became 
more  bold,  skirmishing  more  frequent  and  heavier.  The  old 
iron-mouth  cannon  that  had  been  silent  so  long  turned  loose 
again  to  alarm  the  natives.  The  evening  of  the  fifteenth  our 
regiment  was  ordered  to  the  front.  We  moved  out  as  far  as  the 
Lytle  residence  on  the  pike,  in  whose  yard  we  found  the  ene- 
my's videttes.  Our  regiment  deployed  and  moved  forward, 
drove  the  enemy  back,  and  our  main  skirmish  line  occupied  the 
yard.  For  awhile  it  looked  like  hide  and  seek.  The  enemy 
then  drove  us  back  some  two  hundred  yards  and  occupied  the 
yard  again.  It  was  in  one  of  these  skirmish  charges  that  Lieut. 
Robert  Rhea  was  killed.  Later  in  the  evening  we  drove  them 
back  again  and  occupied  their  line,  which  we  held.  That  night 
the  enemy  left  our  front  and  we  saw  no  more  of  them.  The 
war  cloud  seemed  to  be  growing  darker  and  more  threatening, 
and  soon  we  expected  it  to  break  upon  us  in  a  perfect  storm. 
Cheatham's  entire  division  was  ordered  to  the  front,  to  repair 
at  once  to  Guy's  Gap,  a  point  on  the  pike  further  up  than  we 
had  yet  been,  but  from  some  cause  this  was  not  put  into  exe- 
cution. 

Hardee  and  Stewart  were  on  our  right  and  were  being 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  Stewart  was  being  pressed.  During 
the  night  of  the  26th  we  received  the  following  order : 

HEADQUAETEES  POLE'S  COEPS, 

SHELBYVILLE,  TENN.,  June  26th,  1863. 

Major  General  Cheatham,  Commanding  Division: 

General — The  Lieutenant-General,  commanding,  directs  that 
you  move  your  divisfon  from  its  present  position  to  Tullahoma 


CAPTAIN  S.  J.  A.  FRAZIER. 

Captain  Frazier  was  born  in  Rhea  County,  Term.,  in  1840.  Graduated 
with  the  degree  of  M.  A.,  at  the  Tennessee  College  in  1859.  Joined  Company 
D  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennesss  regiment,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  regi- 
ment at  Knoxville,  was  elected  third  lieutenant  of  the  company.  At  the7re- 
organization  was  elected  first  lieutenant.  At  the  death  of  Captain  J.  G.  Fra- 
zier, he  was  made  captain  of  the  company,  January  the  5th,  1863.  At  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  was  wounded  and  captured. 


FALLING    BACK.  79 

by  the  Schoefner  and  Brownsville  road,  turning  to  the  right  to 
Brownsville.  Let  the  movement  be  commenced  at  the  earliest 
hour  possible  to-morrow  morning. 

Respectfully,  General, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  M.  JACK, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen. 

Very  early  next  morning,  before  the  break  of  day,  we  pulled 
up  and  left  our  encampment  on  the  pike,  and  were  in  Shelby- 
ville  by  eight  o'clock,  hurrying  everything  that  could  be  gotten 
away.  We  distributed  several  hundred  rations  to  the  citizens 
and  burned  everything  that  could  not  be  gotten  away,  that 
would  be  of  any  benefit  to  the  enemy.  Starting  out  from  Shel- 
byville  in  the  hardest  kind  of  rain,  we  headed  for  Tullahoma. 
Our  march  was  very  slow  on  account  of  the  rains;  wagons, 
both  of  the  commissary  and  ordnance  trains,  were  continually 
miring  up  and  with  great  difficulty  were  gotten  along.  We 
could  not  leave  them. 

The  enemy  was  pushing  for  Tullahoma  and  so  was  Bragg. 
Cheatharn's  and  Cleburne's  divisions,  moving  on  different  roads, 
each  in  a  hurry,  approached  a  bridge  across  a  river  at  the  same 
time.  Some  confusion  resulted  as  to  who  would  cross  first. 
Cleburne  halted  and  Cheatham  crossed.  We  reached  Tulla- 
homa late  in  the  evening  of  the  28th,  tired  and  almost  worn  out. 
Everything  had  the  spirit  of  move  on  it  but  the  wagon  train. 
The  enemv  had  kept  moving;  so  had  we,  to  keep  pace  with 
him.  They  were  approaching  Tullahoma  in  force,  and  from 
indications  Bragg  intended  to  give  battle.  Early  Tuesday 
morning  troops  were  seen  by  the  thousands  hurrying  in  all 
directions  through  and  around  the  town,  getting  into  position 
in  the  ditches.  The  fortifications  around  Tullahoma  were  not 
completed  and  a  heavy  detail  was  made  to  finish  them.  We 
lay  all  day  and  night  in  the  ditches  and  in  the  mud  without  shel- 
ter. We  had  nothing  to  eat,  nor  had  we  all  day.  The  boys  began 
to  get  wrathy  and  hot,  but  the  rain,  which  kept  falling  in  con- 
tinuous showers,  kept  us  cool.  Generals  and  men  all  fared 
alike  in  these  ditches.  During  one  of  the  hardest  rains  that 
fell,  the  writer  saw  General  Cheatham  on  a  stump,  sitting  as 
complacently  as  if  in  the  sun,  with  one  shoe  off  and  one  of  his 
big  toes  sticking  out  through  a  hole  in. his  sock. 


80  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

The  enemy  presented  only  a  small  force  in  our  front,  while 
the  main  force  of  his  army  hurried  on  to  our  right  flank,  thus 
forcing  Bragg  from  Tullahoma  and  disappointing  the  men  of 
the  anxiously  expected  battle,  which  they  were  ready  and  wait- 
ing to  give. 

We  left  the  ditches  July  1st  at  daylight  in  the  direction  of 
Cowan.  The  boys  were  mad  and  wetter  than  wet  hens.  We 
do  not  know  whether  their  ruffled  tempers  were  due  to  being 
wet  and  muddy  or  to  the  fact  the  "Yanks"  had  fooled  them. 
After  dark  that  evening  Gen.  Polk  received  the  following  dis- 
patch from  Gen.  Mackall,  Bragg' s  chief  of  staff: 

DECHAED.  July  1st,  1863,  7  P.  M. 

GENEEAL — The  enemy  have  reached  your  front,  close  up. 
The  question  to  be  decided  instantly,  shall  we  fight  at  the  "Elk" 
take  position  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  at  Cowan. 

Answer.  W.  W.  MACKALL, 

Chief  of  Staff. 
To  which  Gen.  Polk  replied: 

ALLISONA,  July  1st,  8  P.  M. 

GEN.  MACKALL — You  ask,  "Shall  we  fight  on  the  'Elk'  or 
take  position  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  at  Cowan,"  in  reply, 
take  position  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  at  Cowan.  In  that 
case  I  think  as  much  of  the  wagon  train  as  possible  should  be 
thrown  over  the  mountain,  and  a  supply  of  grain  ordered  up 
by  railroad  for  the  animals  we  must  retain  on  this  side. 

Respectfully, 

L.  POLK,  Lieut.  Gen. 

Arriving,  Gen.  Polk  formed  line  of  battle,  and  all  the 
wagon  trains  were  hurried  across  the  mountain,  and  all  the 
troops,  except  Polk's  corps  and  Wheeler's  cavalry.  So  there 
was  no  fighting.  That  Bragg  was  moving  to  avoid  an  engage- 
ment, was  very  evident.  After  all  the  wagon  trains,  artillery 
and  troops  had  crossed  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  mountain, 
except  Polk's  corps  and  Wheeler's  cavalry.  Polk's  men  began 
climbing  the  mountain's  steep  and  rugged  side.  Cheatham's 
division  was  the  last  to  begin  the  assent  and  that  directly  over 
the  tunnel.  The  cavalry  still  battling  with  the  enemy's  van- 
guard. After  a  long  and  tiresome  pull  up  the  mountain,  we 
camped  on  its  top  near  "University  Place,"  July  3rd,  Friday 
night. 


PREPARING  FOE  BATTLE.  81 

G-en.  Polk  camped  with  Gen.  Cheatham  that  night  near  our 
brigade.  Since  we  had  left  the  Shelbyville  pike,  the  enemy 
had  kept  pressing  us  hard  by  day  and  with  but  little  relenting  at 
night,  pushing  with  indomitable  energy  to  either  cut  Bragg  off 
from  the  river  or  by  pressing  him  so  hard,  he  would  not  be  able 
to  cross  all  his  army  and  army  trains,  and  thereby  captuie-a 
part  of  his  army  at  least.  If  such  was  their  aim  they  made  a 
complete  failure.  At  eight  o'clock  that  night  Gen.  Polk  re 
ceived  the  following  dispatch  from  Gen.  Wheeler,  who  was  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  or  nearly  so : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS,  July  the  3rd,  1863. 

R.  R.  CROSSING,  NEAR  UNIVERSITY  PLACE. 
LIEUT.    GEN.   POLK — The  enemy  are   engaging  me  very 
warmly  at  this  point.     Our  men  are  maintaining  their  ground 
bravely.     The  enemy  have  infantry  and  cavalry  and  are  evi- 
dently reinforcing.  Respectfully, 

JOSEPH  WHEELER, 
Major  General. 

Leaving  our  encampment  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  early 
next  morning,  descending  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Cumberland 
we  hastened  on  to  the  river.  All  the  army  that  had  preceded 
Polk  and  Wheeler  had  crossed  the  river,  part  on  the  railroad 
bridge  at  Bridgeport  and  part  on  pontoons  at  the  mouth  of 
"Battle  Creek"  where  now  is  the  city  of  South  Pittsburg.  We 
crossed  on  the  pontoon.  Wither 's  division  after  crossing  the 
river  moved  out  to  Whitesides,  Cheatham  halted  at  Shell  Mound. 
Cheatham  had  brought  up  the  rear  to  the  river  and  there  ended 
the  pursuit,  and  the  river  remained  the  picket  line  for  some 
time. 


CHAPTER  XL 

ON  the  seventh  day  of  July,  1863,  Gen.  Bragg' s  tired  and 
almost  worn  out  army  entered  Chattanooga  after  a  long 
and  a  remarkable  march  from  Middle  Tennessee.  The 
enemy  had  pressed  us  so  closely  we  experienced  a  feeling  of  re- 
lief when  we  put  the  Tennessee  river  between  us  and  sat  down 
around  Chattanooga  to  enjoy  a  quiet  rest.  Cheathain's  divis- 
ion left  the  pike  some  ten  miles  out  from  Shelby ville ;  made  the 
march  through  rain  and  mud,  halting  and  marching,  forming 
lines  of  battle  in  ditches  and  out  of  ditches,  pressed  day  and 
night  by  a  relentless  foe;  yet  we  came  into  Chattanooga  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  single  gun  or  a  pound  of  quartermaster's  or 
commissary  stores  or  a  round  of  ordnance,  except  what  was 
given  to  citizens  at  Shelby  ville  when  we  were  leaving.  Although 
there  were  some  wounded  and  some  were  taken  sick  on  the 
way,  yet  our  division  made  the  march  and  went  into  camp  with 
400  more  men  than  we  started  with.  Around  Chattanooga  we 
had  but  little  to  do,  except  to  build  fortifications.  For  one 
week  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  camped  on  the  hill  above 
and  overlooking  the  boat  landing,  on  a  high  bluff  where  we 
threw  up  fortifications.  On  the  10th  of  July,  R.  P.  Nail,  Third 
Lieutenant  of  Company  A,  resigned  and  R.  P.  Jones  was  made 
Third  Lieutenant  to  fill  the  vacancy.  On  the  28th,  O.  Engle- 
dow  was  made  Third  Lietenant  of  Company  E,  in  the  place  of 
J.  L.  Waller,  who  had  been  promoted.  J.  F.  Tatham  was  made 
Third  Lieutenant  of  Company  F  in  place  of  R.  Rhea,  who  was 
killed  on  the  Shelbyville  pike. 

We  [have  been  having  a  quiet  time  so  far,  since  we  came 
to  Chattanooga  until  now.  The  enemy  having  crossed  part  of 
their  army  to  this  side  of  the  river,  a  few  miles  below  Chatta- 
nooga, and  a  part  came  up  on  the  other  side  opposite  the 
city;  and  the  two  armies  were  again  confronting  each  other, 
and  picket  duty  was  in  demand.  Regular  details  from  each  reg- 
iment was  made  every  few  days  for  picket  duty.  August  the 


AKOUND     CHATTANOOGA.  83 

first,  a  detail  was  sent  out  from  our  regiment  under  Lieut.  R.  J. 
Tipton  of  Company  B,  who  late  in  the  evening,  in  a  spat  with 
the  enemy,  was  killed.  On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  Lieut. 
Thomas  Cunningham,  third  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  re- 
signed and  R.  W.  Colvill  was  made  third  lieutenant  to  fill  his 
place.  T.  M.  Brabson,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
death  of  Lieut.  Tipton,  and  A.  C.  Smith  was  made  second 
lieutenant.  The  22nd  of  August,  Lieut.  R.  W.  Colvill  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  filling  the  vacancy  made  by  the 
promotion  of  S.  J.  A.  Frazier  to  that  of  captain. 

The  enemy  kept  steadily  encroachiag  toward  the  city  from 
below,  inch  by  inch,  until  he  occupied  Lookout  Valley,  and  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  river  in  front  of  Chattanooga.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Palmer,  of  New  Orleans,  was  with  us  and  had  been  for 
some  time.  He  was  occupying  one  of  the  churches  of  the 
city  on  Sunday  morning,  August  21st,  the  day  appointed  for 
humiliaton  and  prayer  by  President  Davis.  The  church  was 
filled  with  men,  women  and  soldiers.  While  Dr.  Palmer  was  at 
pray,  the  Federals  threw  a  bomb  into  the  city,  the  shell  falling 
and  exploding  in  the  street  just  in  front  of  the  church  door. 
The  Doctor  did  not  stop  in  his  prayer,  nor  look  up,  but  went 
on  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  although  it  produced  some  lit- 
tle rustle  of  excitement.  When  he  had  finished  his  prayer  and 
gotten  up,  he  found  but  few  in  the  church.  Nearly  all  had 
slipped  out  quietly  and  gone  home.  Only  three  or  four  soldiers 
remained,  Maj.  C.  W.  Heiskell  was  one  of  them.  The  Federals 
kept  shelling  the  city  at  intervals  all  day.  One  of  the  first 
shells  thrown,  exploded  wounding  a  little  girl  breaking  her  leg, 
and  out  of  this  sad  accident  came  near  being  a  sadder  affair  in 
our  division  and  in  our  regiment. 

A  CHALLENGE. 

The  father  of  our  Lieut.  Col.  Moore  was  living  in  the  city 
at  the  time  and  had  in  his  house  several  sick,  in  fact  it  was 
full.  The  wounded  little  girl  was  taken  to  Mr.  Moore's  home 
but  was  refused  admittance  for  want  of  room.  Brig.  Gen. 
Smith,  of  Cheatham's  division,  being  present  at  the  time  made 
some  unkind  remarks  about  Mr.  Moore.  These  remarks  reached 
the  ear  of  our  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  he  asked  an  explana- 
tion of  Gen.  Smith,  concerning  the  remarks  he  made  about  his 
father.  To  Col.  Moore's  mind  no  satisfactory  explanation  was 


84  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

made,  and  he  challenged  Gen.  Smith  for  a  duel,  which  was  ac- 
cepted. By  an  agreement  Gen.  Smith,  Lieut.  Col.  Moore  and 
Maj.  C.  W.  Heiskell  met  in  Col.  Moore's  tent,  where  Maj. 
Heiskell  poured  oil  on  the  troubled  waters,  and  the  two  brave 
officers  separate  d  good  friends.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place 
just  here,  to  say  sadly,  we  pen  the  fact,  that  but  a  few  brief 
days  both  these  brave  officers  fell  in  battle,  the  one,  Gen. 
Smith,  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  other,  Col.  Moore,  in 
the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge. 

The  bombardment  created  considerable  excitement  in  the 
city,  and  activity  in  the  camp.  For  several  days  at  intervals 
they  continued  the  shelling. 

On  Sept.  2nd  our  brigade  received  the  following  order : 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Sept.  1st,  1863. 

GEN.  CHEATHAM— The  Lieutenant-General  commanding,  di- 
rects that  you  order  Strahl's  brigade  to  take  the  position  now 
occupied  by  the  regiment  on  out-post  duty  on  the  other  side  of 
Lookout  Mountain.  This  brigade  will  relieve  that  portion  of 
Smith's  brigade  on  duty  beyond  the  mountain.  You  will  like- 
wise order  Smith's  brigade  to  a  suitable  point  on  the  Rossville 
rode  this  side  of  the  mountain  to  guard  and  picket  the  same. 
Respectfully, 

THOMAS  M.  JACK,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

Accordingly  our  brigade  moved  to  the  west  side  and  beyond 
Lookout  Mountain,  where  Wood's  division  of  the  enemy  was 
posted,  and  trying  cautiously  to  peep  around  Lookout.  At  the 
same  time  Thomas  was  moving  southward  down  Lookout  Val- 
ley beyond  the  mountain  seeking  a  place  to  cross.  McCook 
also  was  moving  in  the  same  direction,  having  crossed  the  river 
below  Bridgeport  at  Carpenter's  ferry,  aiming  to  get  in  the  rear 
of  Bragg.  Wood  kept  pressing  Lookout  point  in  order  to  hold 
as  much  of  Bragg' s  army  as  possible,  and  as  long  as  possible 
in  Chattanooga.  Col.  0.  F.  Strahl,  who  had  been  commanding 
the  brigade  ever  since  Brig.  Gen.  Stewart  was  taken  from  us  in 
Middle  Tennessee,  was  now  made  Brigadier  General.  Gen. 
Strahl  sent  the  following  dispatch  to  Gen.  Polk  from  our  posi- 
tion beyond  the  mountain : 

LOOKOUT  POINT,  Sept.  6th,  1863. 
LIEUT.  GEN.  POLK,  Commanding  Corps, 

The  enemy  are  just  in  front  of  my  pickets,' send  a  battery 
immediately  if  you  can. 

0.  F.  STEAHL,  Brig.  Gen. 


THE   ENEMY  CLOSING  IN.  85 

This  was  0.  F.  Strahl's  first  order  as  a  Brigadier  General. 
We  had  now  been  three  days  on  the  west  side  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  opposing  Wood's  division  of  Crittenden's  corps,  and 
while  they  were  advancing  slowly  feeling  their  way  we  offered 
but  little  resistance.  In  the  mean  time  Bragg  had  been  busy 
moving  everything  from  Chattanooga,  and  had  about  gotten 
all  away.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  enemy  began  cross- 
ing the  river  at  Harrison,  above  Chattanooga,  and  began  to 
gather  around  Bragg  like  bees  around  a  gum.  For  Bragg  now 
to  leave  Chattanooga  was  one  of  the  inevitables,  and  to  this 
end,  Gen.  Polk  issued  the  following  order  to  Gen.  Cheatham: 

HEADQUAKTERS  POLE'S  CORPS, 
CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Sept.  6th,  1863. 
MAJ.  GEN.  CHEATHAM, 

General — The  Lieutenant  General  commanding,  directs  that 
you  have  your  command  placed  in  readiness  to  move  without 
delay,  with  three  days's  rations. 

Respectfully, 

THOS.  M.  JACK, 
Ass'tAdj'tGen. 

Bragg  left  Chattanooga  the  morning  of  Sept.  7th,  and 
moved  out  in  the  direction  of  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills  on  the 
Chickamauga,  which  we  passed  late  in  the  evening  of  the  same 
day,  where  we  halted  for  two  days.  The  enemy's  cavalry  was 
but  a  short  distance  from  us  in  McLemore's  cove,  and  were  at 
the  mills  the  day  before  we  left  Chattanooga.  By  this  time 
Thomas  and  McCook  were  on  this  side  of  Lookout  Mountain 
and  perhaps  even  with  Crawfish  Springs.  Crossing  the  Chicka- 
mauga, Bragg  moved  on  to  Rock  Springs  where  a  part  of  his 
army  stopped,  and  part  (Cheathani's  division)  moved  on  to 
Lafayette,  Ga.  The  Federal  General  Crittenden  followed  us 
closely  all  the  way  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  and  Gordon's 
mills  where  he  halted,  sending  only  a  small  force  on  to  keep  in 
touch  with  and  watch  Bragg's  movements.  We  lay  around 
Lafayette  three  or  four  days,  during  which  time  Gen.  Thomas 
and  Gen.  McCook  had  crossed  Mission  Ridge  and  moved 
close  around  Crawfish  Springs.  Crittenden  had  now  pushed  a 
heavy  force  out  in  the  direction  of  Pea  Vine  creek. 

The  night  of  the  llth,  Cheathan  received  orders  to  be  ready, 
with  the  rest  of  Folk's  corps,  to  move  against  this  force. 


86  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

LAFAYETTE,  GA.,  Sept.  12th,  1863,  3  A.  M. 
MAJ.  GEN.  CHEATHAM, 

The  Lieut.  Gen.  commanding,  directs  that  you  hold  your 
command  in  readiness  to  move  at  daylight.  You  will  move 
light,  carrying  your  ambulances  and  ordinance  trains. 

Respectfully, 
THOMAS  M.  JACK,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

We  beat  the  long  roll,  and  the  men  were  in  line  by  the  first 
streak  of  the  gray  dawn,  the  morning  of  the  12th,  feeling  as- 
sured something  was  going  to  be  done.  The  men  were  ready 
and  waiting  in  line  when  the  following  was  received : 

LAFAYETTE,  GA.  Sept.  12th,  1863,  9  A.  M. 
MAJ.  GEN.  CHEATHAM, 

The  Lieut.  Gen.  commanding,  directs  that  you  at  once  pro- 
ceed to  Rock  Spring  with  your  division  and  take  position. 
Respectfully, 

THOMAS  M.  JACK,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen. 

Leaving  Lafayette  that  evening,  we  took  position  a  short 
distance  beyond  Rock  Spring  Church  on  the  Crawfish  road. 
Hindman's  division  was  posted  on  the  right  of  us  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Peavine  Church,  while  Walker's  division  was  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  Hindman,  and  on  to  Peavine  creek.  The  next 
day  Cheatham  moved  out  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill,  and  on 
reaching  the  top  of  the  ridge  overlooking  the  bottoms  fronting 
the  mill,  our  brigade  was  thrown  forward  as  a  skirmish  line. 
Maj.  C.  W.  Heiskell  was  in  charge  of  the  Nineteenth  regiment 
skirmishers,  and  so  close  came  the  enemy  that  we  could  hear 
them  give  the  command  to  the  cannoneers  and  then  the  cannon 
boomed.  Nothing  however  was  developed  by  this  move,  ex- 
cept a  few  cannon  shots  exchanged  and  some  picket  firing.  We 
returned  to  Rock  Spring  where  we  remained  until  the  18th  of 
September. 


JAMES  H.  HAVELY. 

Sergeant  James  Havely  was  born  in  Lee  County,  Va.,  February  the  24th, 
1838,  ;iud  moved  to  Tennessee  when  but  six  years  old,  where  he  lived  until 
1861,  when  he  joined  Company  K  at  Rogersville,  Tenn.,  in  April,  1861.  In 
June  following,  Company  K  was  assigned  to  the  Old  Nineteenth  Confederate 
regiment  in  its  organization  at  Knoxville.  Sergeant  Havely  was  with  the  reg- 
iment in  all  her  battles,  shared  in  all  the  hardship-*  of  camp  life.  He  was  a 
faithful  brave  soldier.  He  surrendered  with  the  regiment  near  Greensboro, 
N.  C.,  in  April,  1865. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA. 

had  been  a  great  deal  of  maneuvering  of  troops  in 
both  armies  in  the  last  few  days.  The  demonstration  the 
enemy  had  made  south  of  the  Chicamauga  was  only  feel- 
ing for  Bragg  and  to  ascertain  the  trend  of  his  intentions.  The 
morning  of  the  18th  Gen.  Thomas,  who  had  been  at  Crawfish 
Springs  moved  to  their  extreme  left  and  took  position  near 
Reed's  bridge  on  the  Chicamauga.  Crittenden  occupied  the 
center  and  McCook  the  right  wing  of  the  line  of  battle.  Rose- 
crans  held  all  the  bridges  on  the  Chicamauga  the  morning  of 
the  18th  with  an  advanced  line  out  from  the  creek  to  dispute 
the  advance  of  Bragg's  army.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  18th 
the  order  of  line  of  battle  was  read,  and  the  command  to  ad- 
vance and  cross  the  Chicamauga  was  given. 

Johnson's  division  was  to  advance  and  cross  the  Chica- 
mauga at  Reed's  bridge.  He  met  the  enemy  near  Peavine 
creek,  but  they  fell  back,  and  Johnson  reached  the  bridge  with 
but  little  resistance.  Walker  was  to  cross  at  Alexander's  bridge 
and  Buckner  to  cross  at  Tedford's  ford.  Polk  to  cross  where- 
ovcr  lie  could  between  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills  and  Tedford's 
ford.  Walker  met  with  such  strong  opposition  that  he  could 
not  cross  at  Alexander's  bridge,  but  was  forced  to  go  down 
the  creek  to  Bryant's  ford,  a  mile  or  more  below,  where  he  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing. 

The  Old  Nineteenth  was  in  Gen.  Polk's  command  which 
was  as  follows: 

FOLK'S  CORPS. 

DIVISIONS. 
Cheatham's — Hindmau's. 

CHEATHAM'S  DIVISION. 
Maney's,  Smith's,  Wright's  and  Strahl's  Brigades. 


88  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

STKAHL'S  BRIGADE. 

Fourth  and  Fifth  Tennessee,  Col.  J.  J.  Lamb. 
Nineteenth  Tennessee,  Col.  F.  M.  Walker. 
Twenty-fourth  Tennessee,  Col.  J.  A.  Wilson. 
Thirty-first  Tennessee,  Col.  E.  E.  Tansil. 
Thirty-third  Tennessee,  Col.  W.  J.  Jones. 
Stafford's  Battery. 

During  the  night  of  the  18th  Bragg  crossed  the  Chica- 
mauga with  his  veteran  army  and  formed  his  lines,  with  Rose- 
crans in  his  front  and  the  bou-nding,  turbulent  Chicamauga, 
with  but  few  places  to  cross,  at  his  back.  All  had  crossed  but 
Cheatham's  division  which  had  remained  on  the  south  or  east 
side  of  the  creek  until  the  next  morning.  While  we  had  not 
marched  very  far,  yet  we  were  without  rations,  depending  upon 
our  supply  train  which  had  not  come  up.  The  general  surface 
of  the  battlefield  was  rough  and  heavily  timbered,  and  the  two 
armies  lay  that  night  in  closer  proximity  than  each  perhaps 
thought.  Rosecrans  had  all  the  advantage  as  to  position,  as  he 
picked  his  own  ground,  giving  Bragg  only  room  enough  to  form 
his  lines  between  him  and  the  creek,  over  which  he  could  not 
have  recrossed,  without  great  danger  of  capture  had  he  been 
defeated.  While  Rosecrans  had  all  the  roads  open  arid  free  in 
his  rear.  The  numerical  strength  of  each  army  was,  Rose- 
crans about  sixty-five  thousand  (65,000),  and  Bragg  about  sixty 
thousand,  (60,000.)  Saturday  morning  came  bright  and  clear, 
and  the  glittering  bayonets  on  the  rebel  guns  reflected  in  the 
sunlight,  presaged  no  retreat,  victory  or  death.  Cheatham's 
division  left  its  bivouac  early  Saturday  morning,  arid  crossed 
the  Chicamauga  at  Hunt's  bridge,  a  rude  construction  for  farm 
use,  about  one  mile  below  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill,  moved  rap- 
idly to  the  front,  to  our  right,  where  from  Walker's  guns,  the  red 
tide  of  battle  began  and  rolled  down  the  line  to  our  left,  while  the 
roar  of  musketry  broken  only  by  the  loud  peals  from  the  iron- 
mouth  cannon,  showed  clearly  the  battle  had  opened  in  earn- 
est. We  double-quicked  through  the  woods  and  over  rough 
ground  which  threw  our  regiment  out  of  line.  Having  nearly 
reached  the  line  then  engaged  directly  in  our  front,  we  halted 
but  for  a  moment  to  straighten  our  lines,  when  Gen.  Cheatham 
came  riding  rapidly  down  in  front  of  our  line,  saying,  "Give 
them  hell,  boys,  give  them  hell;"  he  was  riot  out  of  sight,  and 
scarcely  out  of  hearing  when  Gen.  Polk  came  in  full  tilt  on  his 


BATTLE   OF   CHICAMAUGA.  89 

heels  and  said  "Give  them  what  Cheatham  says,  we  will  pay 
off  old  chores  to-day." 

Notwithstanding  the  tumult  and  uproar  of  battle,  and  burst- 
ing of  shells  around  us  there  went  up  a  "Rebel  Yell"  that  vied 
with  the  roar  of  battle. 

Just  as  Gen.  Polk  passed  our  regiment,  two  of  Company  A, 
who  were  standing  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  leaning  against 
a  blackjack,  one  on  each  side  of  the  tree,  a  capped  shell  came 
crashing  through  the  woods,  struck  this  tree  and  burst,  wound- 
ing the  two  men  so  they  had  to  go  to  the  rear,  this  ended  their 
part  of  the  fight  for  the  day.  We  could  have  put  our  hand  on 
the  shoulder  of  one  of  the  men,  but  was  not  hurt. 

As  we  went  into  the  battle  we  met,  seemingly,  more  men 
corning  out  wounded  than  were  of  us  going  in,  some  were  be- 
ing carried  and  some  were  able  to  walk.  The  sight  was  any- 
thing else  than  inspiring  and  encouraging.  Whatever  thoughts 
or  feeling  of  fear,  were  passing  through  the  minds  of  the  brave 
boys,  were  soon  dispelled,  for  we  moved  at  once  into  the  thick- 
est of  the  fight.  Xo  one  knew  what  havoc  was  being  made,  save 
only  immediately  around  him.  Cheatham  had  been  ordered  to 
the  assistance  of  Gen.  Walker  who  had  opened  the  battle  and 
had  been  engaged  some  time  against  a  stubborn  force,  from 
whom  he  had  captured  three  pieces  of  Scribner's  battery,  and 
was,  when  Cheatham  arrived  being  driven  back,  assaulted  in 
front  and  on  both  flanks.  When  Cheatham  struck  the  advanc- 
ing enemy  he  not  only  checked  his  advance,  but  drove  him 
back  to  a  small  clearing  only  a  few  rods  wide,  one  side  of  which 
was  a  thick  undergrowth.  Over  this  spot  of  ground  both 
armies  had  been  driven  and  each  had  left  their  dead  and 
wounded  to  mark  the 

ILL-FATED  SPOT 

where  the  Old  Nineteenth  lost  most  of  her  men  that  day.  Here 
Capt.  Win.  Lackey  of  Company  E,  fell,  a  minnie-ball  passing 
through  his  hat-band  in  front,  coming  out  beneath  the  hat  be- 
hind. This  spot  of  ground  was  strewed  with  dead  who  wore 
the  "Blue,"  and  who  wore  the  "Gray."  Here  Ben  C.  Looney 
of  Company  K,  a  brave,  good  soldier,  fell.  From  this  fearful 
fire  of  the  enemy,  Strahl's  brigade  recoiled  but  for  a  moment, 
yet  in  range  of  the  enemy's  fire  just  sufficient  to  rally  from  the 
shock,  which  was  especially  deadly  to  the  Old  Nineteenth,  :vho 


BATTLE   OF   CHICAMAUGA.  91 

seemed  to  have  suffered  most.  From  this  point,  Cheatham  or- 
dered our  brigade  to  the  support  of  Gen.  Smith,  but  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  from  where  we  were  and  soon  we  were  at  it  again. 
From  some  cause  a  gap  in  our  line  had  been  made  to  our  right 
and  the  enemy  began  filing  through,  flanking  us,  when  our 
brigade  was  ordered  to  drive  back  this  column  and  fill  the  gap. 
The  Old  Nineteenth  occupied  the  extreme  right  of  our  brigade, 
and  as  we  moved  our  regiment  got  the  full  benefit  of  both  the 
flanking  column  and  the  one  in  our  front. 

THE   ENEMY 


4th  and  5th.       31st  and  33d.      24th  and  19th. 

STRAHL'S  BRIGADE. 

We  had  to  fall  back  some  fifty  or  a  hundred  yards  to  head 
off  this  flanking  column.  Our  brigade  at  this  point  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  about  two  hundred  men,  of  which  number 
the  Old  Nineteenth  lost  more  than  any  other  regiment  in  the 
brigade.  Here  Maj.  C.  W.  Heiskell  was  wounded.  We  were 
re-inforced  by  Maney's  brigade,  drove  the  enemy  back,  and 
filled  the  gap.  The  19th,  31st  and  33rd  Tennessee  regi- 
ments were  thrown  forward  in  advance  of  the  main  line  and 
held  it  under  a  most  galling  fire.  Gen.  Wright,  who  was  on 
our  right,  had  been  under  fire  for  two  long  hours  of  hard  fight- 
ing when  the  enemy  re-inforced  his  front,  and  would  have 
forced  him  back,  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of  Cleburne,  who 
also  saved  us,  who  then  with  Cheatham  fought  Johnson  and 
Baird  like  tigers,  capturing  some  artillery,  guns,  colors  and 
several  hundred  prisoners.  The  fighting  was  sanguine  and  des- 
perate. We  drove  the  enemy  back  towards  the  road  leading 
to  Chattanooga.  In  this  charge  of  Cheatham,  Brig.  Gen.  Smith 
was  killed,  falling  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  he  commanded  so 
long  as  colonel  and  was  then  commanding  as  general.  He  was 
soon  followed  by  two  of  his  staff.  This  was  the  last  charge  of 
Cheatham  for  this  day.  We  bivouaced  in  line  of  battle  that 
night.  It  was  after  dark  when  Gen.  Longstreet's  men,  or  the 
greater  part  of  them  came  on  the  field.  As  soon  as  he  formed  his 
lines  in  the  dark  he  attacked  the  enemy  on  our  left  and  for  one 
hour  the  roar  of  battle  was  heavy.  The  firing  ceased  about 
nine  o'clock  when  silence  quietly  i*ested  upon  the  two 


92  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

armies  for  the  night.  The  firing  had  been  kept  up  so  constantly 
all  day  long,  and  until  a  late  hour  of  night,  that  the  air  was 
almost  stifling  from  the  smoke  of  battle.  We  had  not  gained 
much  ground,  but  our  whole  line  was  encamped  on  the  ground 
occupied  by  the  enemy  the  morning  before. 

Each  army  during  the  day  had  been  driven  back  and  forth 
over  the  same  field  repeatedly.  Through  the  night  we  lay  qui- 
etly, resting,  and  some  sleeping  and  naught  could  be  heard  but 
the  low,  pitiful  moan  of  the  suffering,  some  calling  for  water 
some  for  help,  but  neither  could  be  had.  None  dare  venture 
lest  he  too  would  fall  and  perhaps  lower  than  those  whom  he 
would  help.  The  stars  came  out,  the  immortelles  of  hope,  and 
the  moon  with  pitying  eye  looked  down  through  the  dense 
smoke  and  foliage,  upon  the  thousands  of  pale  faces  silent  in 
death. 

"While  the  wind  passed  o'er  with  a  dirge  and  a  wail. 
Where  the  young  and  the  brave  were  lying." 

In  today's  fighting  Thomas  Wright  was  wounded  three 
times,  once  in  the  right  side  and  twice  in  the  breast.  He  was 
left  on  the  field  the  first  day  as  dead,  where  he  lay  until  nine 
o'clock  Monday  morning  without  any  attention,  when  he  was 
picked  up  and  taken  to  the  hospital.  There  was  little  sleep  on 
the  field  of  carnage  that  night,  and  perhaps  less  in  hundreds  of 
homes  in  the  south,  where  mothers,  sisters  and  wives  were  pray- 
ing for  their  dear  ones,  many  of  whom  that  same  hour  were 
lying  upon  the  battle  field  of  Chicamauga  in  that  sleep  that 
knows  no  waking.  Nearly  all  night  long,  in  front  of  where  we 
were,  could  be  heard  the  axes  of  the  enemy  busily  preparing  for 
the  coming  day's  struggle.  Our  boys  were  silent  and  thought 
ful,  ready  to  take  whatever  the  "fates"  decreed.  The  next 
morning  a  dense  fog  from  the  Chicamauga  mingled  with  the 
smoke  of  Saturday's  battle,  covered  all  the  valley.  Through 
this  fog  and  smoke,  the  sun  veiling  his  face,  looked  as  if  made 
of  blood,  thus  presaging  another  baptism  of  fire  that  was  too  dye 
the  field  of  battle  a  deeper  crimson.  Somehow  it  seemed  to 
have  infused  new  life  into  our  men,  for  after  the  sleeplessness 
and  silence  of  the.  night  came  life  and  activity.  The  lines  of 
both  armies  had  been  shortened  during  the  night  and  the  boys 
were  ready  and  waiting  for  the  coming  struggle,  which  was  soon 
to  awake  the  echoes  from  hill  to  hill,  and  carry  with  it  hundreds 
more  of  noble  and  brave  men  into  death's  spacious  maw.  Or- 
ders had  been  given  to  open  the  battle  at  the  break  of  day,  but 


A   DEATH   STEUGGLE.  93 

from  some  cause  it  was  eight  or  nine  o'clock  before  the  first 
sound  of  conflict  was  heard  rolling  down  the  line  from  right  to 
left  as  it  did  the  morning  before.  Gen.  Polk  opened  the  attack 
this  morning  with  intense  fury.  The  enemy  had  prepared  breast- 
works, behind  which  they  intended  to  fight  that  day,  but  our 
men  charged  them  with  desperate  determination  and  took  them. 
The  boys  looked  with  indifference  upon  whatever  the  enemy  had 
made  for  their  protection,  not  intending  to  fight  behind  works 
they  did  not  make  any,  and  whatever  the  enemy  took  shelter 
behind,  our  boys  intended  to  drive  them  from  it.  The  fighting 
this  morning  was 

A  DEATH   STEUGGLE. 

The  tug  of  war  was  between  two  brave  armies,  and  the 
bravery  of  such  men,  the  determination  to  win  or  die,  banished 
all  fear.  All  along  the  line  our  men  pressed  forward,  yielding 
no  ground.  So  desperate  was  the  conflict  in  several  places  that 
hand  to  hand  fight  was  waged  and  a  clash  of  bayonets  was 
heard. 

Gen.  Hood  made  a  desperate  charge  on  the  enemy's 
lines  near  the  Brotherton  House,  where  he  received  a  severe 
wound  in  the  leg  which  necessitated  the  amputation  of  the 
limb.  He  had  succeeded  in  breaking  the  ememy's  line  and 
forcing  their  right  back  on  to  the  Crawfish  Springs  road  below 
the  widow  Glenn's,  when  Longstreet  drove  them  around  like  a 
barn  door,  while  all  along  great  chasms  were  being  made  in 
his  lines. 

So  dreadful  now  was  the  storm  of  battle,  and  the  deadly 
fire  of  the  Confederate  guns,  who  surged  forward  like  an  ocean 
of  fire,  that  the  right  wing  of  the  enemy  could  not  stand  it. 
Hindman's  division  swung  around  on  the  spur  of  Mission 
ridge,  where  he  had  men  killed  by  being  pierced  with  the  bay- 
onet, where  he  captured  about  twelve  hundred  (1200)  prisoners. 

Bragg  kept  pressing  the  right  of  Rosecrans  until  he  fled 
from  the  field  in  confusion  seeking  safety  within  the  limits  of 
Chattanooga.  Here  Gen.  Garfield  came  very  near  being  cap- 
tured, in  the  confusion  that  now  reigned.  He  must  have  gotten 
lost  and  in  one  wild  desperate  ride,  in  front  of  our  lines  and  a 
battery  he  rode  for  life  and  safety. 

The  left  wing  of  Rosecrans 's  army  was  more  stubborn, 
Thomas  had  been  driven  back  to  an  elevation  near  the  Snod- 
grass  residence,  who  having  such  a  strong  position  held  his 


94  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

ground  against  repeated  attempts  of  Bragg  to  dislodge  him, 
until  nightfall  when  he  abandoned  the  field,  leaving  the  battle- 
field of  Chicamauga  in  our  hands  with  all  its  dead  and 
wounded.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the  war 
and  of  the  world's  history  of  battles.  The  casualties  of  mod- 
ern warfare  of  Europe  has  but  one  parallel,  that  of  Waterloo. 

Of  the  two  great  armies  here  engaged,  Rosecrans  and  Bragg 
lost  about  one  third  of  their  men,  (33,^  per  cent.)  The  Old 
Nineteenth  lost  about  forty  per  cent  (40  per  cent)  of  her  men. 

Maj.  Gren.  Hood  lost  a  leg,  Maj.  G-en.  Hindman  slightly 
wounded,  Brig.  Gen'ls  Helm,  Smith  and  Deshler  were  killed, 
Brig.  Gen'ls  Adams,  Gregg  and  McNairy  were  badly  wounded. 

Upon  the  sanguine  fields  of  Virginia  more  men  had  been 
marshalled  in  one  army,  but  the  armies  did  not  suffer  that  fear- 
ful rate  of  loss  as  did  the  two  armies  in  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga. We  can  give  only  a  partial  list  of  our  loss  in  the  Old 
Nineteenth  Tennessee. 

KILLED. 

Jolley,  W.  F Co.  D        Hawley  Martin Co.  G 

Lackey,  Capt.  Wm.W.  "    E        Cook,  William "    H 

Traynor,  Mike "     "        Looney,  Benj.  O "    K 

Suan,  Wm "   •  Stover,  Jake "     " 

McAndry,  J.  W.,  Co.  K. 

WOUNDED. 

Heiskell,  Maj.  C.  W Tresby,  John Co.  D 

Wright,  Thomas Co.  —  Rhea,  Lieut,  J.  H "  G 

McPherson,  Frank "    C  Blair,  Capt.  R.  L "  " 

Barnett,  J.  W "    D  Hawk,  Lieut,  H.  D. ...   "  " 

Frazier,  Capt.  S.  J.  A. .  "     "  Grisham,  James ''  H 

Brataber,  John "     "  Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M "  F 

Delones,  Wm "     "  Carmack,  John "  K 

Kelley,  W.  A "     "  Johnson,  Andy  G "  " 

Mitchell,  John "     "  Parrott,  Dan " 

Renfro,  James,  Co.  D. 

CAPTURED. 

Holly,  Bill Co.  C        Cooper,  John Co.    C 

Frazier,  Clark "    G        Frazier,  Capt.  S.  J.  A..  "    D 


LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  W.  ETTER 

Lieutenant  William  Etter  was  born  at  Mooresburg,  Tenn.,  August  10th, 
1838.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K,  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Con* 
federate  regiment,  May,  1861.  He  was  once  wovinded  in  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign. Lieutenant  Etter  made  a  brave  soldier,  faithful  to  duty  and  always  at 
his  post.  He  died  January  the  5th,  1898,  at  Palarm,  Arkansas. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CHATTANOOGA. 

\  FTER  the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  Rosecrans  hastened  to 
_/\_  Chattanooga  and  began  preparations  for  the  evacuation 
of  the  city,  fully  expecting  Bragg  to  thrust  his  iron  col- 
umn of  rebels  into  the  city  and  take  it. 

Rosecrans,  in  his  hurry  to  be  gone,  left  his  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field.  Bragg  cared  for  them,  burying  the  dead 
and  taking  the  wounded  to  the  hospital ;  did  not  press  the  pur- 
suit but  allowed  Rosecrans  to  rally  his  men  and  form  a  line  of 
defence  around  Chattanooga.  If  Bragg  had  pushed  on  his 
forces  immediately  he  could  have  captured  Rosecrans'  entire 
army,  but  it  seems  that  at  the  very  crowning  moment  of  suc- 
cess, some  unseen  or  mystic  influence  controls  the  situation, 
and  often  the  goal  of  our  ambition  is  lost  forever.  Such  was 
the  case  here. 

While  Rosecrans  no  doubt  keenly  felt  his  defeat  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Chicamauga,  he  rejoiced  in  that  he  gave  Bragg  only  a 
chance  to  peep  into  Chattanooga  from  the  top  of  Mission  ridge 
and  top  of  Lookout  Mountain.  For  days  our  men  were  busy 
burying  the  dead,  caring  for  the  wounded  that  remained  on  the 
field  and  gathering  up  the  guns,  blankets,  swords,  broken  cais- 
sons and  broken  ambulances.  Dead  men  and  dead  horses  lay 
thick  all  over  the  field.  It  would  be  useless  to  attempt  a  dis- 
cription  of  the  scene  of  suffering.  The  crazed  condition  of  those 
poor  fellows,  many  whose  brains  had  been  plowed  by  the  dead- 
ly bullet,  both  Federal  and  Confederate,  yet  living,  but  unable 
to  tell  of  their  suffering  was  a  pitiable  spectacle  indeed.  Others 
we  saw  dying,  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality. 
One  happy  Christian  we  saw  as  we  passed  lying  on  the  ground 
with  a  rock  for  a  pillow,  so  badly  wounded  that  the  surgeons 
had  passed  him  by,  as  being  beyond  any  possible  hope  of  bene- 
fit, dying;  exhorting  every  one  around,  and  all  whose  eye  he 
would  catch  to  become  Christians.  He  would  put  the  pertinent 


96  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

questions:  "Are  you  a  Christian?  Do  you  love  Jesus?"  We 
could  go  on  and  mention  other  scenes  of  similar  character,  but 
we  must  desist. 

Bragg  and  Rosecrans  settled  down  to  work  with  pick  and 
spade,  directly  under  each  others'  guns  with  all  their  mihgt  as  if 
preparing  a  grave  each  one  for  the  other.  Bragg  kept  pushing 
the  enemy's  lines  in  on  the  city  until  he  held  the  river  from 
Lookout  Point  to  about  half  way  to  the  city  and  from  Sherman 
Heights  to  the  river  above.  For  days  the  videttes  of  each  army 
stood  in  two  hundred  yards  of  and  gazed  at  each  other  like 
grim  monsters.  The  valley  out  and  around  Chattanooga  was 
literally  blockaded  with  breast  works  and  plowed  up  with  rifle 
pits.  The  crest  of  Mission  Ridge,  its  base  and  sides  were  fur- 
rowed with  rule  pits  and  covered  with  cannon.  Every  now  and 
then  from  the  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain  were  sent  savage, 
hissing  shells  which  would  fall  and  burst  in  the  camp  of  the  en- 
emy. For  days  the  pickets  of  each  army  sat  in  their  "Gopher 
Pits"  cracking  jokes  with  each  other,  while  from  the  top  of 
Mission  Ridge  and  the  rocky  peak  of  Lookout  went  shrieking 
messengers  of  death  over  their  heads  unnoticed  and  uncared 
for  by  them,  and  the  signal  flags  from  the  mountain  tops  talk 
with  each  other  ire  their  silent  way  over  the  enemy's  camp. 

A  STRANGE  SCENE. 

A  peculiar  scene  is  here  presented  in  the  two  encampments 
of  supposed  hostile  foes;  both  armies  were  under  the  range 
of  a  single  shot ;  the  bands  of  each  played  for  the  entertainment 
of  the  other;  while  the  sweet  notes  of  "Dixie"  were  wafted  to- 
wards the  city  over  the  encampment  of  the  enemy,  they  were 
met  by  those  of  "Yankee  Doodle"  coming  over  to  us.  Another 
uncommon  feature  of  these  two  encampments  was  while  the  en- 
emy could  plainly  see  the  men  and  officers  moving  around 
Bragg' s  headquarters,  we  in  turn  from  the  top  of  Lookout  and 
the  ridge  with  glasses  could  see  what  the  Yankees  had  for  din- 
ner. 

While  here  Bragg  had  detailed  a  special  secret  scout,  for 
what  purpose  or  whither  they  went,  no  one  but  the  detail  knew. 
This  secret  scout  or  detail  was  told  it  had  a  hazardous  underta- 
king. It  was  a  volunteer  detail ;  there  was  one  from  each  com- 
pany of  the  Old  Nineteenth,  and  those  of  our  regiment  had  to 
report  to  Lieut.  A.  C.  Smith,  of  Co.  B.  We  can  recall  but  the 
names  of  Lieut.  Smith,  Co.  B,  Jack  Lackey,  of  Co.  E,  Harrison 


A   STEANGE    SCENE.  97 

Chase,  of  Co.  G,  C.  C.  Moore,  of  Co.  H,  Jake  Williford,  of  Co. 
K,  and  John  Field,  of  Co.  C.  Harrison  Chase  was  captured 
and  died  in  camp  Chase.  About  one-fourth  of  this  detail  never 
returned,  nor  did  we  ever  hear  any  report  from  them. 

Thursday  night,  October  22nd,  our  division  (Cheatham's) 
was  ordered  to  Tyners,  a  station  on  the  E.  T.  V.  &  G.  Ry.  We 
moved  out  in  one  of  the  hardest  rains  (which  we  always  did)  of 
the  season,  feeling  our  way  through  the  gloom  and  darkness  of 
the  night  that  seemed  almost  impenetrable.  Over  the  rough 
ridges,  through  the  'dark  and  muddy-  hollows  we  went,  and 
reached  the  station  cold  and  wet  and  took  the  cars  for  Knox- 
ville.  There  were  three  trains  of  cars  for  us  ready  and  waiting. 
Our  brigade  took  the  middle  section,  and  moved  out  without  a 
hitch  or  jar,  until  somewhere  about  Cleveland  two  cars  of  the 
front  section  broke  loose,  started  back  and  met  our  section  on  a 
curve.  The  engine  of  our  section  struck  the  runaway  cars  and 
split  one  of  them  open.  The  sudden  jar,  when  it  struck,  knocked 
off  a  good  many  men  on  our  section,  and  wrho  in  turn  hallowed 
to  the  rest  on  the  train  to  jump  that  the  rear  section  was  right 
on  us.  And  such  another  jumping  out  of  and  from  the  top  of 
the  cars,  the  writer  one  of  them.  No  one  seemed  to  be  hurt 
except  from  jumping.  The  writer  falling  on  his  back  instead 
of  his  feet  was  hurt  by  another  falling  on  him. 

Soon  we  were  on  the  cars  again  and  moved  on  to  Charleston, 
where  we  found  the  bridge  had  been  burned.  On  our  arrival 
we  found  Gen.  Stevenson  with  his  division,  who  had  preceded 
us  but  a  few  days,  had  prepared  a  temporary  pontoon  bridge 
across  the  river  over  which  we  crossed.  Having  to  cross  single 
file  we  were  some  time  in  getting  all  the  men  over.  When  this 
was  accomplished  we  moved  on  up  the  road  as  far  as  Sweet- 
water,  where  we  remained  two  days.  Here  we  had  issued  to  us 
what  the  boys  called  "sick  flour,"  from  which  we  made  biscuit. 
Having  no  lard  or  grease  of  any  kind,  we  worked  up  our  bread 
with  salt  and  water.  These  biscuits  made  a  lot  of  sick  boys. 
They  were  so  hard,  we  saw  several  of  the  boys  gouge  holes  in 
the  biscuits,  fill  them  with  powder  and  blow  them  open,  as  they 
said,  so  they  could  eat  them.  While  we  were  here  Gen.  Long- 
street  relieved  us  and  we  returned  to  Chattanooga.  On  our  re- 
turn our  brigade  was  transferred  to  Stewart's  division,  but  we 
returned  to  our  old  quarters  on  the  line  of  works  around  Chat- 
tanooga. Sunday  morning  we  in  company  with  Rufus  Lamb, 


98  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

went  upon  Lookout  point,  where  we  had  a  grand  view  of  the 
encampment  of  both  armies.  The  enemy's  two  pontoon  bridges, 
one  below  and  the  other  opposite  the  city,  were  in  plain  view. 
Walthrall's  brigade  of  thirteen  hundred  (1,300)  men  was  around 
on  the  west  side  of  the  mountain  and  had  only  two  pieces  of 
artillery.  We  were  on  Lookout  nearly  all  day.  Hooker,  who 
was  in  the  valley  just  beyond,  was  in  plain  view  and  on  the 
move  all  the  time.  They  took  advantage  of  the  bushes  and  the 
spur  of  the  hills  to  obscure  their  movements,  but  could  be 
plainly  seen  from  Lookout  point.  They  were  evidently  maneuver- 
ing for  an  attack  on  Lookout.  The  enemy  had  a  battery  of 
four  guns  on  one  of  the  knolls  across  the  river  in  the  toe  of  the 
Moccasin,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  constant  shelling  of  the 
Point  all  evening. 

Hooker  began  moving  against  Walthrall  the  morning  of  the 
24th,  moving  slowly  and  fighting  all  day  as  he  ascended  the 
mountain,  reaching  the  Cowan  house  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  Before  night  a  heavy  fog  that  had  gathered  down  the 
mountain,  and  was  too  heavy  to  scale  the  top,  moved  up  the 
mountain  towards  the  river  and  enveloped  the  men  as  they 
fought,  shutting  out  all  view  of  the  battle  except  the  flash  of 
the  guns,  and  for  this  cause  it  was  called 

"THE  BATTLE  IN  THE  CLOUDS." 

The  battle  lasted  until  long  after  dark.  The  ground  was  so 
rough  that  no  line  could  be  observed,  and  so  close  were  the  twro 
contending  forces  that  it  was  with  difficulty  you  could  mark  the 
line  between  them.  The  whole  side  of  the  mountain  was  cov- 
ered with  men  firing  from  behind  trees  and  rocks,  the  flash  of 
their  guns  resembling  fire-flies. 

Our  division  lay  in  the  valley  and  watched  the  battle  above 
the  clouds.  The  night  was  clear  and  frosty,  and  the  moon  a 
little  below  the  zenith  passed  through  an  almost  total  eclipse. 
We  had  not  yet  been  asleep,  and  we  lay  out  on  the  ground  and 
watched  the  moon  as  it  passed  through  the  shadow  of  the  earth. 
While  we  lay  around  Chattanooga,  although  not  fighting,  still 
death  made  her  requisition  upon  us,  and  we  could  not  shirk  the 
demand.  The  following  died  while  here: 

Wideman,  J.  P Co.  A        Stowe,  Richard Co.  F 

Dakin,  Charles "  B        Raney,  J.  R "   " 

Morgan,   Andrew "C        Sharp,  F.  E "    " 

Martin,  Harris "  F        Smith,  Ranson "   " 

Michaels,  J.  H "  "        Harshberger,  J.  D "  K 


CHATTANOOGA  AND   MISSION   RIDGE.  99 

MISSION   RIDGE. 

As  the  old  town  clock  on  the  city  hall  struck  the  hour  of 
one  at  night,  the  whole  of  Bragg' s  army  could  have  been  seen 
moving  for  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge  to  form  line  of  battle. 
Our  brigade  left  its  ditches  in  the  valley  and  formed  line  along 
on  top  of  the  ridge  about  one  hundred  yards  from  Gen.  Bragg's 
headquarters,  where  now  stands  the  "Lone  Cedar"  on  the  ridge. 
In  forming  our  line  we  put  one  line  as  skirmishers  at  the  foot 
of  the  ridge  and  had  only  a  single  line  on  top.  The  two  lines 
were  so  deployed  that  neither  formed  a  good  skirmish  line.  To 
our  right  and  in  front  of  Bragg's  headquarters  was  a  knoll, 
which  the  Federals  had  covered  with  cannon,  and  from  these 
batteries  they  shelled  our  brigade  and  regiment.  Stafford's 
battery  was  placed  with  our  regiment. 

The  sun  as  it  mounted  the  "Ninth  hour  of  the  watch," 
taking  in  the  grand  view,  saw  quite  a  difference  in  the  two 
armies  as  they  lay  in  unrest  waiting  for  the  coming  conflict. 
Bragg's  army,  not  its  former  self,  depleted  by  the  battle  of 
Chieamauga,  had  not  been  strengthened  by  re-inforcenients. 
Gen.  Bragg  had  been  returned  to  Johnson,  and  Gen.  Long- 
street  had  been  detached  and  sent  to  Knoxville.  So  Bragg  had 
but  a  handfull  compared  with  the  large  army  of  Rosecrans. 
The  latter  had  been  re-inforced,  the  wear  and  tear  of  his  army 
had  been  more  than  made  good,  while  Bragg  had  no  source 
from  which  to  fill  his  depleted  ranks. 

While  we  lay  in  line  of  battle,  watching  the  busy  maneuv- 
ering of  the  enemy's  troops,  one  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  sat 
alone,  seemingly,  holding  communion  with  his  own  heart,  ut- 
terly oblivious  of  what  was  going  on,  unconscious  of  the  ex- 
citement that  was  moving  and  agitating  Bragg's  whole  army. 
This  was  Lieut.  Col.  B.  F.  Moore,  and  such  a  state  of  mind  and 
feeling  was  never  observed  before,  at  any  time,  much  less  at 
such  a  time  as  this.  Lieut.  Col.  Moore,  like  Marshal  Murat  of 
old,  was  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  We  believe  that  if 
Col.  Moore  had  thought  there  was  one  drop  of  cowardice' blood 
coursing  his  veins,  he  would  have  severed  every  artery  to  have 
let  it  out.  If  there  be  such  a  thing  as  premonition  of  coming 
danger,  the  soul  of  Col.  Moore  must  have  been  heavily  pressed 
by  such  an  unseen  power.  About  noon  Col.  Moore's  father 
came  up  to  our  regiment,  and  the  Colonel  gave  him  everything 
he  had  about  his  person,  his  knife,  comb,  money,  watch,  every- 


100  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

thing.  .  The  battle  had  not  yet  opened,  but  the  enemy's  thou- 
sands were  moving  before  and  approaching  the  skirmish  line 
of  the  Confederates.  The  very  air  smelt  of  battle,  and  the 
winds  as  they  came  sweeping  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge,  made 
sad  music  as  if  the  precursor  of  the  coming  storm.  Bragg 
had  the  heaviest  part  of  his  line  on  the  right,  while  his  left  was 
strung  out  until  it  presented  only  a  single  and  deployed  line. 
About  two  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  sound  of  musketry  and 
cannon  were  heard  on  our  extreme  right,  and  grandly  came  on 
down  the  ridge  to  us  and  rolled  across  the  valley  like  a  wave  at 
high  tide.  The  enemy  made  a  vigorous  assault  on  oar  right  but 
our  men  held  their  places  not  only  against  one  but  repeated 
attacks. 

Gen.  Cleburne,  after  he  had  exhausted  his  ammunition, 
continued  the  fight  by  rolling  large  bowlders  down  the  steep 
side  of  the  ridge  on  the  enemy.  About  three  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  Thomas  advanced  on  our  left  with,  it  seemed  to  us, 
ten  thousand,  where,  with  our  brigade  we  had  only  a  skir- 
mish line.  We  counted  right  in  our  front,  four  double  columns 
of  the  enemy  all  moving  directly  against  our  brigade  of  a  sin- 
gle line. 

These  columns  of  the  enemy  seemed  to  us  to  be  not  more 
than  seventy-five  or  a  hundred  yards  apart.  In  front  of  our 
regiment  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  was  a  small  field  not  more 
than  fifty  yards  wide,  across  this  these  four  columns  had  to 
pass.  On  the  Federals  came  with  that  determined  step  that 
defied  all  opposition.  Our  men  from  the  top  of  the  ridge  and 
from  the  foot  who  were  behind  works,  while  the  enemy  were 
crossing  this  field,  poured  so  heavy  a  fire  into  them,  both  of 
musketry  and  cannon,  that  after  they  had  crossed  there  were 
left  on  the  field  men  dead  and  wounded  seemingly  as  thick  as 
stumps  in  new  ground.  Several  of  our  men  who  were  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  never  "reached  the  top,  whether  they  were  killed 
or  captured  we  never  knew.  Those  who  did  reach  the  top, 
came  through  a  shower  of  bullets  that  plowed  the  ground  and 
skinned  the  trees  all  around  them. 

The  air  between  the  Eidge  and  Orchard  Knob  was  filled 
with  shot  and  shell.  The  ridge  where  we  were  was  quite  steep 
but  the  enemy  came  on,  crawling  up  the  steep  ascent  like  bugs, 
and  were  so  thick  they  were  almost  in  each  other's  way.  Our 
men  fell  back  to  a  spur  of  the  ridge;  leaving  the  top  under  a 


MISSION  KIDGE.  101 

most  galling  fire,  going  down  the  slope  and  across  an  open  field 
to  our  new  position  on  this  spur.  As  we  descended  the  ridge, 
Tom  Kennedy,  an  Irishman  of  Co.  C.,  brave  as  are  made,  did 
not  stop  to  load  his  gun,  but  would  turn  around  every  now  and 
then,  take  off  his  hat  and  shake  it  at  the  enemy,  while  the  min- 
nie  balls  were  hissing  all  around  him.  Tom  Kennedy,  brave 
soldier,  finally  fell  in  line  of  battle  the  22nd  of  July,  around  At- 
lanta. Gen.  Strahl  formed  his  men  on  the  spur  of  the  ridge  op 
posite  the  one  we  had  left,  where  we  checked  the  enemy  and  held 
them  for  a  while.  They  charged  us  from  the  front,  at  the  same 
time  sent  a  column  to  our  left  and  rear.  In  this  charge  our  Lieut. 
Col.,  B.  F.  Moore  was  killed  and  his  brother  was  captured, 
whether  he  was  wounded  or  not  we  do  not  know,  however,  he 
remained  with  the  Colonel,  who  fell  on  his  father's  place,  al- 
most in  sight  and  hearing  of  his  home. 

The  Federals  with  an  overwhelming  force  against  Bragg's 
left  wing,  drove  it  back  and  had  succeeded  in  gaining  his  rear 
by  left  flank,  thus  forcing  Bragg  from  the  ridge  and  across  the 
Chicamauga.  Our  brigade  crossed  the  Chicamauga  after  dark 
by  the  light  of  large  fires  on  the  bank,  and  being  the  last  to 
cross,  were  kept  on  picket  all  night  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek. 

The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded, 
what  few  we  could  gather. 

KILLED. 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  B.  F.  Moore, 

Field,  John Co.  C        McRussell,  Hugh Co.  D 

Johnson,  M.  S "     D        Huff  master.  J.  M "    H 

WOUNDED. 

Smith,  Capt,  Win Co.  C        Holly,  Wash  B Co.  G 

Allison,  Bob "     "        Ensinger,  Thomas "    H 

Burnett,  Frank "     "        Johnson,  Andy  G "    K 

CAPTUKED. 

Bruden,  J.  M Co.  A        Lyons,  Dan Co.  C 

Bowers,  James "    B        Ford,  James  J , "   G 

Moore,  James Co.  B. 

The  next  morning  early,  the  army  began  passing  through 
Chicamauga  station,  our  brigade  being  011  picket,  was  the  last 
to  pass  through.  Before  our  regiment  left  the  station,  we  burn- 
ed a  few  cars  loaded  with  corn  that  had  not  been  removed. 
There  were  a  few  dead  lying  here  and  there  around  the  station, 


THE   OLD   NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

some  in  the  yards  and  some  lying  out  on  the  commons.  These 
had  been  killed  that  morning  by  sharp  shooters  and  shell. 
They  still  remained  lying  on  the  ground  when  we  left,  and  if 
they  were  taken  care  of  by  our  men  we  never  knew,  nor  did  we 
know  who  they  were  or  to  what  regiment  they  belonged.  How 
indifferent  we  become  towards  our  .dead  in  times  of  war;  we 
pass  them,  cast  a  glancing  look  and  go  on,  with  but  little  more 
feeling  than  if  they  were  hogs. 

The  enemy  occupied  a  ridge  near  by,  from  which  they  kept 
up  constant  shelling  ail  the  time  we  were  in  the  station,  mak- 
ing it  lively  for  us  but  we  did  not  leave  until  we  were  ready. 
We  passed  out  east  of  the  station  and  across  the  ridge  when 
we  turned  southward  in  the  direction  of  Ringgold,  Ga.  The 
ridge  we  had  just  passed  was  under  cultivation  and  a  fence  ran 
along  the  crest  of  it  for  some  distance.  After  we  had  gone 
beyond  some  distance  the  Federals  had  just  gained  the  top  of 
the  ridge  and  had  lined  the  fence.  We  tarried  not,  nor  did  we 
loiter  by  the  way  for  the  enemy's  vanguard  in  a  measure,  was  our 
rear  guard,  they  no  doubt  captured  every  now  and  then  some 
of  our  men  who  happened  to  straggle  too  far  behind.  WTe 
did  not  rush  but  moved  slowly  on  account  of  our  wagon  train, 
so  that  the  enemy  kept  close  upon  us.  As  we  retreated  and 
showed  no  disposition  of  resistance,  the  enemy  became  more 
bold  causing  us  to  halt  and  form  line  of  battle  more  than  once, 
before  reaching  Ringgold,  twelve  miles  from  Chicamauga  sta- 
tion. We  passed  on  through  Ringgold,  and  Ringgold  Gap, 
where  we  halted  with  all  the  division  train  wagons,  about  half  a 
mile  beyond  the  gap.  Stewart's  division  was  put  in  easy  po- 
sition for  action  if  needed. 

Cleburne's  division  was  placed  in  Ringgold  Gap.  Now  this 
gap  is  the  pass  through  Taylor's  ridge,  half  a  mile  below  the 
town  of  the  same  name,  and  through  it,  there  is  just  room 
enough  for  the  creek,  the  public  road  and  the  railroad.  Thick 
undergrowth  and  vines  covered  every  available  space  between 
the  creek  and  the  roads.  In  the  gap  Cleburne's  men  were  con- 
cealed by  the  thick  undergrowth,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th, 
and  awaited  the  slow  approach  of  the  enemy.  Folk's  corps  was 
in  easy  reach  and  at  his  back.  The  enemy  entered  the  gap 
with  closely  compact  column,  dreaming  naught  of  an  ambush 
awaiting  them,  until  Cleburne  opened  upon  them  unexpectedly 
such  a  deadly  fire  that  they  had  to  retreat,  leaving  in  the  gap 


MISSION   RIDGE.  103 

five  hundred  dead  and  wounded.  This  put  a  quietus  to  their 
enthusiasm.  We  moved  on  to  Dalton  unmolested,  reaching 
that  place  November  30th.  Our  division  (Stewart's)  encamped 
on  the  ridge  one  mile  below  Rocky  Face,  and  west  of  the  city. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


AROUND   DALTON. 

OUR  camp  fires  had  scarcely  began  to  burn  in  our  new  en- 
campment around  Dalton  before  Gen.  Bragg  laid  aside  his 
official  robes  to  be  put  upon  the  shoulders  of  another. 
December  the  2nd,  1863,  G-en.  Bragg  issued  his  last  order  to 
the  men  he  had  commanded  for  the  last  eighteen  months,  and 
whom  he  had  led  in  several  hard  fought  battles.  He  was  en- 
deared to  the  men,  by  sharing  with  them  the  hardships  and 
toils  of  army  life,  the  long  marches  by  day  and  by  night, 
through  rain  and  sunshine,  heat  and  cold.  Often  the  frozen 
ground  the  only  bed  of  repose  to  the  weary  body,  and  with  the 
clouds  for  the  only  covering.  With  these  associations  crowd- 
ing his  memory  it  was  with  a  feeling  of  deep  sadness  he  said 
farewell.  In  departing  he  left  with  the  army  his  blessings  and 
the  prayers  of  a  grateful  friend.  The  army  was  loath  to  give 
him  up,  the  only  censure  that  pervaded  the  army  and  gave 
shape  to  expression  was,  in  not  pressing  forward  and  reaping  a 
full  harvest  of  victory  after  his  battles,  which  were  his,  save  the 
last  one,  Mission  Ridge.  December  the  5th  Maj.  C.  W.  Heis- 
kell  received  his  promotion  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment and  Capt.  J.  G.  Deaderick,  of  Company  B,  was  made 
Major. 

To  Tennesseeans  the  future  horizon  of  the  young  Confeder- 
acy began  to  look  dark  and  hazy.  We  had  now  been  battling 
for  two  and  a  half  years,  and  had  been  driven  back  and  back 
by  our  foes,  until  our  homes  were  now  in  the  hands  and  at  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy.  When  Gen.  Bragg  left,  his  mantle  fell  on 
the  shoulders  of  Lieut.  Gen.  Hardee,  for  a  short  time;  who  in 
taking  command  of  the  army  sought  the  confidence  of  the  men 
as  their  leader,  and  endeavored  to  inspire  enthusiasm,  to  dispel 
all  clouds  of  doubt  that  had  gathered  above  our  horizon,  to  be- 
get again  in  us  a  hope  of  ultimate  success.  Gen.  Hardee  was 


ABOUND     DALTON.  105 

in  command  only  twenty-five  days,  but  they  were  fruitful  and 
satisfactory. 

Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson  took  command  of  the  Army  of 
Tennessee  the  twenty-seventh  of  December,  1863.  There  were 
but  two  army  corps,  Hardee's  and  Hood's.  The  latter  now 
commanded  by  Gen.  Hindman. 

December  the  twenty-eighth  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Norton,  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  our  regiment.  We  had 
been  without  a  chaplain  ever  since  the  reorganization  at  Co- 
rinth, when  the  Rev.  David  Sullins  left  us.  Again  we  had  the 
privilege  of  building  huts  for  winter  quarters,  which  we  did  on 
the  side  of  the  ridge  west  of  Dalton.  Christmas  caught  up 
with  us  again  and  came  on  in  full  sympathy  of  the  times,  bois- 
terous and  stormy.  It  seemed  there  were  more  fighting  and 
drinking  in  carnp  than  usual,  gambling  was  again  on  the 
rampage. 

The  devil,  who  is  ever  alert  to  his  own  interest,  seemed 
more  busy  than  for  some  time.  Billie  Vestal,  a  little  fellow  of 
light  weight,  and  Newton  Williams  of  large  proportions  of  two 
hundred  pounds  or  more,  seemed  to  lock  horns  more  often  of 
late,  and  fought  harder,  but  little  Billie,  like  the  goat,  always 
came  of  first  best. 

Gen.  Johnson,  now  began  granting  furloughs  to  all  who  could 
go  home  and  return  by  the  middle  of  March,  granting  a  certain 
number  at  a  time.  But  few  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  took  advan- 
tage of  this  offer  of  furlough,  partly  on  account  of  the  improbable 
chances  of  reaching  home.  Our  regiment  was  small  compared 
to  what  it  was  when  we  started  out,  having  been  reduced  by  deaths, 
wounds,  captures  and  with  sorrow,  be  it  said,  by  some  desertions, 
until  now  it  uum beted  only  about  one-third  of  its  former  self. 

The  army  of  Tennessee  had  never  been  engaged  in  battle 
(save  that  of  Perryville,  Ky.)  that  some  of  the  Old  Nineteenth 
Tennessee  were  not  left  sleeping  on  the  battle-ground.  And  while 
Bragg  was  in  Kentucky,  our  regiment  was  not  lying  idle,  as 
Vicksburg  and  Baton  Rouge  can  testify,  for  the  soil  of  both 
places  was  stained  by  the  chivalric  blood  of  her  men,  and  where 
we  left  some  of  our  brave  ones  to  sleep  until  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection.  On  our  arrival  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  Gen.  Cheatham 
began  maneuvering  for  his  old  brigade.  On  our  return  from 
Sweetwater  just  before  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  we  were 
taken  from  Gen.  Cheathain's  division  and  put  in  Gen.  Stewart's 


106  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

division.  February  the  12th  our  brigade  left  the  ridge  west  of  the 
city,  and  also  Gren.  Stewart's  division,  and  moved  to  the  east 
side  of  Dalton,  two  miles  on  the  Spring-place  road,  and  back 
into  Cheatham's  division.  We  were  happy  and  so  was  Cheat- 
ham.  We  were  now  in  Hardee's  corps;  which  was  made  up  as 
follows : 

HAKDEE'S  CORPS, 
Four  Divisions, 

Cheatham's,     Cleburne's,    Walker's,     Bate's. 
CHEATHAM'S  DIVISION: 

Four  Brigades, 

Strahl's,    Maney's,    Wright's,    Vaughn's. 
STRAL'S  BRIGADE: 

Fourth  and  Fifth  Tennessee,  Col.  J.  J.  Lamb. 
Twenty-Fourth  Tennessee,  Lieut. -Col.  S.  E.  Shannon' 
Nineteenth  Tennessee,  Col.  F.  M.  Walker. 
Thirty-First  and  Thirty-Third  Tennessee,  Lieut.-Col.  F.  E. 
Stafford. 

In  our  new  quarters  we  pitched  our  camp  along  by  the  side 
of  Jackson's  brigade.  The  first  thing  that  attracted  our  atten 
tion  was  stocks  in  his  brigade  and  a  man  imprisoned  in  them. 
Our  brigade  was  furiously  indignant  at  the  idea  of  a  man  being 
punished  in  such  a  manner.  So  after  dark  the  first  night  of 
our  arrival,  the  night  clear  and  frosty,  the  moon  seemingly 
shining  brighter  than  usual,  some  fifty  or  a  hundred  men  from 
our  brigade,  made  an  invasion  on  Jackson's  stocks.  While  the 
writer  took  no  part  in  it,  curiosity  carried  him  along  to  see  the 
fun.  Jackson's  men  did  not  like  the  stocks  any  more  than  we 
did,  yet  they  resented  what  they  took  to  be  an  invasion  and  rose 
to  a  man  in  defense  of  the  eye-sore  of  their  brigade.  Quickly 
the  men  were  in  line  by  companies  and  moved  to  the  scene  of 
the  excitement.  The  alarm  being  given,  we  scattered.  The 
writer  dodged  under  the  shadow  of  one  of  the  cabins  just  as  a 
company  filed  by  him  and  made  his  escape.  They  captured 
three  or  four  of  our  men,  and  kept  them  in  the  guard  house  all 
night.  The  next  morning  our  men  demanded  the  release  of  the 
prisoners  which  was  granted.  One  month  from  this  time,  the 
stocks  were  seen  in  the  Old  Nineteenth  staring  our  own  men  in 
the  face  and  in  them  our  men  were  placed  without  much  kicking. 
How  readily  we  adapt  ourselves  through  habit  to  surrounding 


AROUND    DALTON.  107 

circumstances,  no  matter  how  obnoxious  they  may  have  been  to 
us  at  first.  February  20th,  Cheatham's  division  was  ordered  to  the 
assistance  of  Gen.  Polk  who  was  at  Demopolis,  Ala.  Leaving 
camp  early  in  the  morning  we  boarded  the  cars  at  Dalton  for 
Atlanta,  where  we  arrived  late  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 
The  next  morning  Gen.  Cheatham  and  about  one-third  of  our 
brigade  took  on  a  high  "Tight,"  and  we  had  a  lively  time  in  the 
streets  of  Atlanta  that  day. 

The  men  ran  after  Gen.  Cheatham,  calling  him  "Mars 
Frank;"  begging  him  to  make  them  a  speech,  (a  thing  the  Gen- 
eral could  not  do),  he  would  say  "Ah,  go  away,  my  boys,"  but 
the  boys  would  not  go.  The  General  would  run  to  the  next 
corner  and  there  be  headed  off  by  another  crowd,  equally  as 
anxious  to  hear  him  speak  as  the 'others.  All  the  General  could 
say  was  "Come  along  boys,  you  are  all  my  boys."  If  there  ever 
was  a  General  and  his  men,  of  whom  it  could  be  said,  the  men 
belong  to  the  General,  and  the  General  belong  to  the  men,  it 
was  Gen.  Cheatham  and  his  division. 

Leaving  Atlanta  next  morning  we  moved  out  for  West  Point, 
which  we  reached  at  four  o'clock  Sunday  morning.  We  re- 
mained here  all  day  and  having  an  opportunity  to  attend  church 
we  took  it  in,  both  in  the  morning  and  at  night.  Leaving  here 
Monday  morning  we  went  to  Montgomery  where  we  went  aboard 
the  steamer  "Reindeer"  for  Selma.  Here  again  we  took  the 
cars  for  Demopolis  where  we  met  Gen.  Polk,  and  where  we  re- 
mained for  three  or  four  days.  Just  what  was  the  object  of  our 
trip  remained  in  the  bosom  of  our  commander.  We  saw  noth- 
ing nor  did  we  hear  anything  to  call  us  to  this  point.  Gen.  Polk 
told  us  he  wanted  Cheatham's  division  with  him  again  and  wished 
we  could  stay.  But  this  was  not  our  place  on  the  war's  great 
chess  board.  We  returned  to  Dalton  over  the  same  route  we 
had  gone  and  back  to  our  camp  again.  On  our  return  we  found 
our  rude  plank  shanties  partly  torn  down .  Of  course  we  laid  it  at 
the  door  of  Jackson's  brigade  without  any  feeling  of  bitterness 
or  ill  will.  We  repaired  our  shanties  and  felt  glad  we  were  at 
home  again.  During  the  night  of  March  21st,  snow  fell  to  the 
depth  of  four  or  five  inches. 

BATTLE   OF   SNOWBALLS. 

The  next  day  the  Old  Nineteenth  and  the  regiment  of  Jack- 
son's brigade  that  lay  close  along  the  side  of  our  regiment  began 
snowballing.  At  first  not  more  than  a  dozen  began,  then  one 


108  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

by  one  joined,  then  they  fell  in  by  the  score  and  soon  each  regi- 
ment was  in  line  one  against  the  other.  Soon  the  two  brigades 
were  out,  and  finally  the  greater  part  of  the  two  divisions 
(Cheatham's  and  Walker's)  were  engaged  in  one  of  the  biggest 
snowballing  of  the  world's  history.  Generals,  Colonels,  and 
company  officers  were  engaged.  Regular  military  maneuvers 
were  observed,  two  lines  of  battle  and  more  than  a  mile  long, 
lasting  three  and  a  half  or  four  hours.  There  were  about  five 
thousand  engaged  in  it.  April  the  first,  Gren.  Johnson  fought 
two  sham  battles  below  Dalton.  He  had  one  or  two  divisions 
on  each  side,  and  in  which  the  artillery  played  a  conspicuous 
part.  When  the  first  battle  came  off  our  division  knew  nothing 
about  it,  and  just  such  another  hustling  of  our  men  to  get  ready 
to  move  to  the  front,  you  never  saw.  The  men  were  lounging 
around,  some  asleep  when  the  cannon  opened.  Every  man  had 
his  accoutrements  on  in  twenty  minutes  ready  for  marching. 
The  sound  of  battle  coming  from  the  direction  of  the  front,  we 
were  sure  the  enemy  had  made  an  attack. 

A  few  days  later  Cheatham's,  Cleburne's  and  Bate's  divi- 
sions with  their  respective  artillery  fought  their  battle.  Citizens 
from  Atlanta,  Dalton  and  other  points  were  present  to  witness 
the  battle.  After  all  this  was  over,  the  Chaplains  of  each  regi- 
ment and  brigade,  began  a  progressive  movement  in  their  work. 
A  revival  spirit  took  hold  of  the  men  as  well  as  the  ministers, 
and  each  brigade  had  its  "Brush  arbor."  Each  afternoon  and 
night,  meetings  were  held  under  each  arbor,  when  inspection 
and  drill  were  not  in  order.  As  the  brigade  arbors  were  near 
each  other,  every  night  could  be  heard  singing  and  shouting 
from  four  brigade  arbors  at  the  same  time.  Our  Chaplain,  Rev. 
R.  W.  Norton  and  Rev.  Brother  McCutcheon,  Chaplain  of  the  24th 
Tennessee  regiment,  conducted  the  meetings  in  our  brigade. 
Father  McCutcheon  was  a  Cumberland  minister,  blessed  old 
man,  he  is  in  heaven  to-day,  for  he  was  an  old  man  then. 
Maney's  brigade  was  about  half  a  mile  from  ours.  In  clearing 
off  the  ground  for  their  arbor,  they  had  left  standing  close  by 
the  arbor  a  tall  hickory  tree  with  scarcely  a  limb  on  it,  and  to 
all  appearances  perfectly  sound.  They  had  swept  some  trash 
up  against  this  tree  and  partly  burned  it,  no  one  thinking 
the  tree  had  burned,  not  even  scorched.  The"  meeting  had 
been  going  on  for  some  time  and  much  interest  was  manifested. 

On  the  night  of  April  the  29th  there  were  hundreds  under 
the  arbor,  and  about  forty  penitents.  At  one  bench  there  were 


AROUND    D ALTON.  109 

eight  penitents  and  two  others,  who  were  Christians,  talking  to 
them,  all  were  kneeling,  when,  with  no  more  warning  than  a 
sharp  crack  or  snap  of  the  tree,  it  came  crashing  through  the 
arbor  and  fell  along  side  of  this  bench, 

KILLING  THE   TEN  AT  ONCE. 

This  came  like  an  explosion  in  the  deep  world  of  thought,  and 
the  soldiers  whose  hearts  of  adamant  had  not  been  moved  for 
years,  began  to  show  signs  of  unrest,  and  began  to  look  for- 
ward beyond  the  sunset  of  this  life  and  to  think  of  the  life  over 
there.  The  next  day  they  were  buried.  It  was  a  sad  scene,  as 
the  long  column  of  soldiers  moved  in  solemn  procession  headed 
by  the  band  playing  the  funeral  march,  closely  followed  by  ten 
ambulances,  each  bearing  its  dead,  to  where  ten  open  graves 
were  waiting  their  reception.  These  same  men,  who  'had  just 
buried  their  ten  comrades,  had  in  days  gone  by,  buried  upon 
the  battlefield  hundreds  of  their  comrades,  piling  them  in 
ditches  one  upon  another  with,  seemingly,  indifference.  But 
here  their  stout  hearts  were  bowed  in  deep  sorrow,  as  they  laid 
away  their  comrades  beneath  the  cold  sands  of  the  grave. 
The  next  day  the  Old  Nineteenth,  buried  one  of  Company  G, 
who  died  with  congestive  chills,  Others  died  while  we  were 
here  at  Dalton,  viz: 

Jackson,  Lee Co.  D        Wright,  Calvin Co.  D 

Rush,  William "     "        Roller,  William "     G 

Rose,  C.  F "     "        Wood,  Talbert "     " 

Sampson,  S.  S "     "        Hord,  J.  J "     K 

Tally,  C.  F.,  Co.  K. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


ROCKY  FACE. 

TAKING  it  all  in  all,  we  had  a  nice  time  while  we  were 
around  Dalton.  April  29th,  1864.  the  enemy  made  a  feint 
movement  on  the  front  and  began  to  stretch  himself, 
waking  up  from  his  long  winter  nap  and  throwing  out  his  long 
arms  feeling  for  "Johny  Rebs."  He  seemed  intent  on  pushing 
Johnson  from  his  present  quarters,  but  he  found  our  general  wide 
awake.  Like  Davy  Crockett,  Johnson  slept  with  one  eye  open 
and  was  never  caught  napping.  Glen.  Hood,  who  lost  a  leg  in 
the  Chicamauga  battle  had  returned  and  had  taken  charge  of 
his  command.  While  we  were  here  Serg't  John  Richards  and 
G-eo.  Cheek  of  Company  H.  went  over  to  Spring  Place,  a  small 
village  east  of  Dalton  and  conscripted  one  William  Garner  and 
brought  him  to  the  regiment.  They  did  this  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  getting  a  furlough,  but  as  the  enemy  began  pressing 
our  front,  Johnson  countermanded  the  order  giving  furloughs, 
and  Garner  joined  Company  H,  and  remained  with  them.  May 
8th,  our  (Strahl's)  brigade  was  ordered  in  double  quick  time  to 
Dug  Gap,  some  five  miles  below  Dalton,  where  Hooker  was 
trying  to  force  his  way  through,  but  was  resisted  by  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry.  We  reached  the  gap  after  an  exceed- 
ingly hard  march,  having  double  quicked  nearly  all  the  way  to 
the  foot  of  the  ridge,  then  had  to  climb  a  long  steep  road,  where 
we  reached  the  top  nearly  exhausted.  On  our  way  up  the  ridge 
we  passed  several  cavalrymen  at  a  spring  severely  wounded. 
Hooker's  command  was  in  plain  view  and  near  the  top  of  the 
gap  on  the  other  side.  After  dark  their  camp  fires  filled  all  the 
valley  beyond.  We  formed  our  line  along  on  top  of  the  ridge, 
and  .for  some  time  the  enemy's  artillery  sent  shot  after  shot 
scalping  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  Soon  after  dark  the  skirmish- 
ing ceased  and  all  became  quiet.  Again  our  ears  were  greeted 
with  some  sweet  music  from  the  Federal  bands  which  made  us 


BOCKY    FACE.  Ill 

wish  "this  cruel  war  was  over."  We  lay  here  all  night  on  the 
rough  rocks.  The  next  morning  Cleburne's  division  relieved 
us  and  we  moved  to  the  right  on  the  line  above  Dalton  and  occu- 
pied a  position  on 

EOCKEY  FACE, 

overlooking  the  gap  through  which  the  public  road,  Mill  creek 
and  the  railroad  ran  Our  regiment  occupied  the  summit  of 
Rocky  Face,  where  we  piled  up  rocks  for  the  protection  of  our 
heads,  behind  which  we  had  to  lie  down'  in  order  to  get  even 
that  protection.  The  enemy's  bullets  were  coming  thick  and 
fast  and  now  and  then  would  find  their  way  through  the  rock 
wall  and  wound  our  boys  in  the  head  and  face.  Their  skirmish 
line  was  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  and  just  in  front  of  our  regi- 
ment was  an  opening  in  the  bushes  as  if  it  had  been  cleared, 
some  twenty  feet  wide.  We  were  lying  down  looking  through 
an  opening  in  the  rock  wall  when  one  of  the  enemy's  pickets 
started  across  this  opening.  All  along  by  the  writer  the  boys 
were  on  the  lookout,  and  no  sooner  did  the  Federal  picket  show 
himself  in  the  clearing  than  a  Rebel  bullet  went  through  his  body. 
We  were  watching  him.  Soon  as  he  fell  two  of  his  comrades 
came  to  pick  him  up  when  they  too  fell  and  lay  by  his  side.  Others 
started  to  them  but  quickly  returned.  The  leaves  of  the  trees 
just  over  our  heads  were  cut  by  the  leaden  missiles  and  were 
falling  thick  all  around  us,  when  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson  came  up 
to  where  we  were  and  would  stand  and  tiptoe  to  see  over  the  ridge 
while  the  bullets  were  cutting  the  leaves  right  around  his  head. 
We  were  lying  down,  afraid  to  stand  up.  One  of  the  boys  ven- 
tured to  warn  the  General  of  the  danger  he  was  in  but  he  only 
smiled  and.  remained  a  few  minutes  longei ,  and  went  on  up  the 
line  alone  and  afoot.  We  remained  here  until  late  in  the  even- 
ing when  we  were  ordered  to  our  extreme  right  and  placed  on  a 
high  knoll  standing  out  in  the  valley  not  far  from  Varnell's  sta- 
tion. We  were  up  some  two  or  three  hundred  feet,  and  in  our 
front  about  one  mile  in  plain  view,  the  Federals  moved  across 
the  valley  column  after  column  towards  our  right.  They  had  a 
heavy  skirmish  line  under  us,  and  Wheeler's  cavalry  was  skir- 
mishing with  them.  We  had  thrown  up  breastworks  around  on 
this  knoll.  Capt.  Deaderick  and  the  writer  were  standing  by 
the  ditches  watching  the  two  skirmish  lines  charge  each  other. 
Standing  down  in  the  ditch  the  writer  could  not  see  very  well 
and  had  to  get  up  on  the  embankment  while  the  Captain  being 


112  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

much  taller  stood  in  the  ditch.  We  had  been  watching  but  a 
few  minutes  when  zip  came  a  ball  passing  between  us,  from  the 
gun  of  a  sharpshooter  lying  behind  a  stump  in  the  field  in  front 
of  us  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  off,  who  had  taken  de- 
liberate aim  at  us.  We  agreed  to  watch  the  sharpshooter  time 
about,  and  one  watch  the  skirmish ;  when  we  saw  the  gun  fire 
we  could  sit  down  out  of  danger  before  the  ball  would  reach  us. 
Out  on  the  skirmish  line  there  was  considerable  commotion 
raised  and  we  both  looked  and  while  we  were  looking  the  sharp- 
shooter fired,  the  ball  brushing  the  writer's  coat  just  under  the 
chin  and  passed  through  the  Captain's  hat.  A  short  distance  this 
side  of  where  the  Federal  column  crossed  the  valley,  stood  a 
beautiful  residence  surrounded  by  orchard,  shade  trees  and  out- 
buildings, and  just  before  night  the  Federals  burned  all  these 
buildings.  We  left  the  extreme  right  late  in  the  evening  of  the 
eleventh  and  moved  back  to  or  near  Dug  Gap  and  remained  all 
night.  Sherman  was  moving  down  the  valley  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  ridge  toward  Resaca.  Gen.  Leonidas  Polk  had 
reached  Resaca  from  Demopolis,  Ala.,  early  in  the  morning  of 
the  twelfth  and  had  taken  position  below  the  town.  Hood  left 
Dalton  early  in  the  morning  of  the  twelfth,  and  Cheatham's 
division  left  about  midnight,  and  reached  Resaca  about  sunrise 
the  morning  of  the  thirteenth,  where  we  found  Hood's  pickets 
were  already  engaging  those  of  the  enemy  about  one  mile  in  the 
direction  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  through  which  the  enemy  had 
passed,  twenty-three  thousand  strong,  under  McPherson  and 
were  pressing  with  vigor  for  Resaca  and  the  railroad  bridge 
across  the  Oostenaula. 

Sherman  followed  Johnson  on  the  east  side  of  the  ridge. 
On  reaching  Resaca,  about  sun  up,  our  regiment  with  the  bri- 
gade formed  line  in  front  of  the  town  and  near  the  railroad. 
Polk  formed  on  the  left  and  below  the  town  with  his  left  resting 
near  the  river,  Hardee  was  in  the  center  in  front  of  the  town, 
and  Hood's  line  extended  to  the  right  and  almost  to  the  Con- 
nasauga  river  above. 

Polk  skirmished  heavily  all  day  of  the  13th,  and  so  did  part 
of  Hardee 's  corps.  The  two  armies  took  up  the  principal  part 
of  the  day  in  maneuvering  for  positions.  Our  boys  were  on  tip- 
toe in  their  frenzy  of  excitement,  and,  like  the  old  war-horse, 
could  hardly  be  held  in  with  bit  and  bridle.  The  enemy  kept 
inching  along  closer  and  closer  to  our  lines  all  the  evening,  and 


114  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

with  an  effort  our  officers  kept  down  the  inclination  on  the  part 
of  our  men  to  charge.  That  night  the  two  armies  lay  in  line  of 
battle  close  to  each  other,  and  ready  for  the  fray  next  morning. 
Heavy  skirmishing  began  early  next  morning,  with  Polk  against 
McPherson,  and  soon  the  whole  line  was  engaged.  Our  divis- 
ion engaged  Baird  and  Jefferson  C.  Davis  in  a  desperate  charge, 
where  the  fighting  continued  for  two  hours  unabated.  In  fact 
the  whole  line  from  right  to  left  was  exceedingly  heavy;  mus- 
ketry and  cannon  played  almost  incessantly,  and  long  after  the 
battle  had  subsided  the  boom,  bang,  zip,  zip,  sound  continued 
in  our  ears.  More  than  a  hundred  cannons  of  both  armies  were 
playing  upon  each  other,  and  the  woods  and  fields  were  filled 
with  deadly  missiles  of  shot  and  shell. 

Hood  drove  the  Federal  line  around  some  distance,  and  on 
Cheatham's  line,  held  by  Strahl's  brigade,  there  was  exceed- 
ingly hard  fighting,  where  the  Old  Nineteenth  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  battle  seemed  more  stubborn  as  the  night  came 
on  until  dark  put  an  end  to  the  fight.  Again  the  two  armies  lay 
in  line,  in  the  same  relative  position  as  when  the  battle  ceased. 
There  was  but  little  change  of  position  in  either  army.  The 
next  morning,  May  the  15th,  the  center  of  the  two  armies  seemed 
to  be  the  attraction  of  the  war-god's  fury.  Fighting  Joe  Hooker 
made  a  most  savage  charge  on  Cheatham's  line,  coming  in  solid 
phalanx  by  brigades,  one  after  the  other,  but  were  driven  back 
to  the  point  of  starting,  with  heavy  loss,  which  was  plainly  vis- 
ible ;  lying  upon  the  ground  were  their  dead  and  wounded  over 
which  we  had  driven  them.  Here,  too,  the  Old  Nineteenth,  as 
usual,  had  her  share  of  casualties,  whose  flag  was  on  the  front 
line,  amidst  this  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  guarded  and  kept  by 
as  faithful  and  brave  a  regiment  as  ever  was  on  the  field  of  car- 
nage. Here  Wm.  R.  Rhea,  of  Co.  G,  lost  a  leg,  and  others  were 
killed  and  wounded  of  the  regiment.  J.  M.  Wright  and  Tobe 
Moody  were  killed  here. 

General  Sherman  had  constructed  a  pontoon  across  the 
river  at  Lay's  ferry,  several  miles  below  the  city,  and  began 
crossing  by  the  middle  of  the  evening  of  the  15th.  This  move 
of  Sherman  caused  Johnson  to  withdraw  from  Resaca,  which 
he  did. at  midnight.  General  Hood  crossed  the  Oostanaula  on 
a  pontoon,  above  Resaca;  Hardee  on  the  railroad  bridge  and 
Polk  on  the  county  bridge,  a  short  distance  below.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  other  regiments  sometimes  would  go  through  a 


A  FAMILY   UNDER  FIRE.  115 

battle  and  come  out  unharmed,  but  the  Old  Nineteenth  never 
came  out  of  an  engagement  without  leaving  some  of  her  men, 
and  here  many  of  her  men  fired  their  last  gun  in  battle  and 
ended  the  struggle  of  life  as  well. 

During  the  first  day's  fight  around  Resaca  we  were  stand- 
ing by  the  roadside,  and  just  below,  some  two  hundred  yards, 
stood  a  cabin  in  which  were  two  women  and  three  children. 
Just  at  this  time  there  was  only  skirmishing  going  on ;  the 
enemy,  being  in  our  front  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  opened  a 
battery  with  this  cabin  in  its  range.  The  first  shot  passed  over 
the  cabin  and  exploded  in  the  distance ;  the  second  burst  in  the 
yard,  when  out  came  the  women  and  children  screaming  at  the 
top  of  their  voices.  The  shells  by  this  time  were  coming  faster 
and  as  each  shot  passed  or  exploded  near  by,  the  women  and 
children  would  throw  up  their  hands  and  fall  on  their  faces  and 
halloed  as  loud  as  they  could,  "0,  Lordy!  O,  Lordy."  Then 
they  came  running  towards  us,  but  before  reaching  us  the  bat- 
tery ceased  and  they  returned. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


battle  of  Resaca  was  the  first  engagement  that  amount- 
ed to  more  than  a  heavy  skirmish,  the  army  of  Tennessee 
had  been  in  under  Gen.  Johnson.      Sherman  had  many 
more  men  than  Johnson,  he  could  send  a  large  force  around  him 
and  yet  confront  him  with  as  many  men  as  Johnson  had,  but 
Johnson  met  Sherman  in  every  move  he  made,  and  was  never 
taken  by  surprise.    We  fell  back  to  Calhoun,  where  we  rested 
one  day  and  night  and  then  moved  on  to  Adairsville,  reaching 
there  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth,  where  we  formed  line  of 
battle.     Schofield  being  the  vanguard  of  the  enemy,  came  up  in 
front  of  Cheatham  and  began  skirmishing.    Although  no  regu- 
lar engagement  seemed  anticipated,  yet  each  one  kept  strength- 
ening his  lines  until  it  reached  the  dignity  of  a  battle,  and  con- 
tinued long  after  dark.    Here  one  of  our  batteries  came  very 
near  getting  General  Sherman.    He  rode  up  to  their  front  line, 
to  a  point  in  plain  view  of  one  of  our  batteries,  when  a  shot 
from  one  of  our  guns  aimed  at  the  group,  burst  in  a  few  feet  of 
the  General;  he  turned  and  moved  off  a  few  feet  just  in  time, 
when  a  second  shot  burst  just  where  he  had  been  standing.    In 
this  (must  I  say  big?)  skirmish,  again  a  few  of  the  Old  Nine- 
teenth gave  up  their  lives,  a  sacrifice  to  the  god  of  war.     John 
Sherman,  Co.  B;  Wm.  Oliver,  Co.  G;  M.  Orick,  Co.  K,  were 
killed.      John    Baily    and    Wm.     Bowers,   of   Co.    G;     Wm. 
Banard  and  Wm.   Mee,  of  Co.  K,  were  wounded.     Sherman 
again  moved  around  Johnson  and  we  fell  back  to  Cass  Station, 
about   seven    miles   below,  'where    he  formed   line    with    the 
full  purpose  of  giving  battle.    Here   Johnson    had   an   open 
field  in  front,  over  which  the  enemy  must  go  if  he  attacked. 
Sherman  did  not  advance,  but  moved  to  our  left  in  a  southwest- 
ern direction,  and  away  from  the  railroad.    Johnson  abandoned 
his  lines  and  moved  down  the  railroad  as  far  as  Cartersville, 
when  he  too,  left  the  railroad,  which  he  had  been  hugging  all 
the  way  from  Dalton;  moved  southwest  and  crossed  the  Etowah 


NEW  HOPE  LINE.  117 

river  not  far  from  Roland's  Ferry,  about  five  miles  from  Car- 
tcrsville,  while  at  the  same  time,  Gen.  Sherman  was  crossing 
at  Stile's  Ferry,  six  miles  below  and  to  our  right,  and  moved  up 
and  on  the  west  side  of  Raccoon  creek  as  fast  as  he  could.  John- 
son pushed  forward  his  men  to  keep  pace  with  him.  Johnson  to 
facilitate  his  movements,  pushed  his  men  on  different  roads, 
parallel,  yet  centering  on,  or  leading  to  New  Hope  Church. 
Gen.  Polk  halted  at  Dallas;  Cheatham's  division  of  Hardee's 
corps  moved  on  to  a  point  beyond  Dallas  and  halted  late  in  the 
evening  of  the  24th.  Hood  came  in  on  the  Alatoona  road,  biv- 
ouaced  near  New  Hope  Church.  Our  division  had  pitched 
camp  seven  miles  beyond  Dallas,  but  was  recalled  at  midnight 
and  in  a  drenching  rain  we  moved  back  to  Dallas.  Johnson 
formed  here  what  was  known  as  the 

NEW   HOPE   LINE. 

Sherman  thought  Johnson  was  still  in  the  vicinity  of  Ala- 
toona, and  011  reaching  New  Hope  and  Dallas,  thought  he  was 
beyond  and  in  Johnson's  rear,  but  found  himself  in  the  very 
teeth  of  Johnson,  -with  eyes  wide  open  and  staring  him  in  the 
face.  Along  the  line  we  threw  up  works  of  loose  logs,  which 
however,  did  not  amount  to  much.  About  the  middle  of  the 
evening  the  enemy  fiercely  attacked  our  line,  seemingly  deter- 
mined to  drive  us  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  There  were  two 
battling  elements  at  work  at  the  same  time  this  evening,  battle 
of  men  and  battle  of  the  clouds,  each  vied  with  the  other, 
which  could  make  the  most  and  loudest  noise.  It  was  a  terrific 
thunderstorm.  The  attack  of  the  enemy  lasted  for  two  hours  or 
more  of  hard  fighting  and  skirmishing  until  after  dark.  G.  "W. 
Holt,  T.  L.  Miller  and  Henry  Burrows,  of  Co.  K;  Elija  Hale  and 
Daniel  Breen,  of  Co.  G,  were  wounded.  Our  loss  in  this  battle 
was  something  over  four  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed. The  attack  was  renewed  the  next  morning  all  along  the 
line  from  New  Hope  Church  to  our  extreme  left.  But  little 
sleeping  was  done  the  night  before.  Each  army  now  was  vigi- 
lant and  on  the  lookout  for  any  surprise  or  attack,  for  each 
watched  for  the  weak  points  of  the  other's  line.  On  this  line 
Billie  Vestal  came  near  losing  his  life.  The  regiment  was  rest 
ing,  and  Billie  was  sitting  down,  tailor-fashion,  facing  the  ene- 
my when  a  shell  came  and  burst  in  his  lap.  A  small  scratch  on 
his  face,  scarcely  bringing  blood,  was  all  the  wound  he  received, 


118  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

except  powder  burn.      The  writer  picked  the  powder  from  his 
body,  from  his  legs,  arms  and  face.    What  a  wonderful  escape! 

Not  an  hour  day  nor  night  but  the  sound  of  musketry  and 
cannon  were  heard.  Changing  positions,  fighting  as  we  changeed, 
moving  here  and  moving  there,  fighting  as  we  went,  fighting 
standing,  fighting  lying  down,  yes,  fighting  all  the  time.  Up 
to  this  time  Haixlee's  corps  formed  the  left  wing,  and  was  south 
of  New  hope,  and  late  in  the  evening  the  corps  was  divided 
and  Cleburne's  division  was  moved  to  the  right  of  Hood  to 
Pickett's  mills,  where  on  the  27th  he  was  attacked  by  Howard. 

PICKETT'S  MILLS. 

Cleburne  had  good  breastworks  with  head  logs,  behind 
which  the  men  lay  quietly  waiting.  As  the  enemy  advanced, 
Cleburne  held  his  fire,  and  but  for  the  Confederate  flags  float- 
ing above  the  head  logs,  there  was  nothing  to  show  that  the 
ditches  were  not  deserted.  The  enemy  advanced  slowly  and 
with  a  firm  step,  expecting  the  Confederate  guns  to  open  on 
them  every  moment.  Yet  when  they  were  within  a  few  yards 
of  Cleburne's  ditches  everything  seemed  as  still  as  death.  No 
one,  none  but  God,  ever  knew  the  fearful  emotion  of  their  souls, 
and  with  what  trepidation  of  heart  they  now  advanced.  They 
could  not  but  have  known  and  doubtless  felt  that  there  was  a 
Confederate  gun,  (which  was  the  fact) ,  pointing  with  deadly  aim 
at  each  and  every  man.  Was  this  bravery!  Then  the  Spar- 
tans must  be  laid  upon  the  shelf.  Now  they  are  only  a  few  feet 
from  the  ditches,  when  there  rang  out  upon  the  stillness,  the 
command  of  Cleburne,  "now  men  fire  !"  Like  a  flash  of  blind- 
ing lightning,  with  a  peal  of  deafening  thunder,  there  went  up 
from  under  the  head  logs  of  Cleburne's  works  a  volley  that  did 
its  deadly  work.  But  few  who  composed  that  front  line  re- 
turned. That  one  volley  laid  upon  the  ground  more  than  one 
thousand  brave  men.  The  next  day,  the  28th  of  May,  Cleburne 
moved  back  to  the  right  of  Cheatham,  and  the  same  evening 
Col.  J.  J.  Lamb,  of  the  5th  Tennessee  regiment  and  of  our  bri- 
gade was  killed.  At  midnight  the  same  day  the  enemy  charged 
the  lines  of  Cheatham  and  Cleburne,  and  soon  after  that  of 
Bate,  and  continued  until  day  light,  and  too  in  an  almost  con- 
tinuous fall  of  rain.  In  these  ditches  we  had  to  remain,  where 
the  water  and  mud  in  many  places  were  two  inches  deep,  where 
we  slept  when  we  could. 


CLARK  BREWER.  „ 

Comrade  Clark  Brewer  joined  Company  I,  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee 
regiment  when  but  a  boy.  Made  a  good,  faithful,  brave  soldier.  He  was  al- 
ways at  his  post  of  duty.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  able  resumed  his  post  of  duty  with  another  command,  and 
fought  with  that  regiment  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Brave  as  the  bravest,  and 
as  sensitive  to  duty  as  brave. 


DEATH  OF  GENEEAL  POLK.  119 

On  June  2nd,  Bate,  Cleburne  and  Walker  were  moved  to 
our  right  leaving  Cheatham  to  hold  the  extreme  left  alone.  On 
the  4th,  Cheatham  moved  to  the  right  with  the  other  divisions 
of  Hardee,  which  then  occupied  the  extreme  right,  with  Hood 
in  the  center  and  Polk  on  the  left. 

There  was  a  continuous  moving  of  troops  to-day,  under  a 
constant  fire  from  the  skirmish  lines  all  the  time.  Sherman 
kept  inching  along  back  towards  the  railroad  and  Johnson  kept 
pace  with  him.  On  the  eighth,  Johnson  fell  back  from  the  New 
Hope  line  and  formed  a  new  line  to  the  left  and  beyond  Lost 
Mountain  and  running  to  and  over  Pine  Mountain  that  stood 
out  in  a  salient  and  continued  on  over  the  top  of  the  Kenne- 
saw  Mountain.  This  new  line  again  placed  Hardee  in  the  center 
and  Cheatham 's  division  along  over  Pine  Mountain,  with 
Strahl's  brigade  and  the  Old  Nineteenth  resting  on  top  of  the 
Mountain.  Here  on  this,  as  was  on  the  other,  fighting  was  con- 
tinuous day  and  night. 

DEATH   OF    GEN.    POLK. 

On  the  morning  of  June  14th,  Generals  Johnson,  Polk, 
Hardee,  Hood  and  Cheatham  were  riding  down  the  line  inspect- 
ing it,  and  that  of  the  enemy's  as  well.  On  reaching  Pine 
Mountain  at  a  point  of  fine  observation  held  by  the  Old  Nine- 
teenth, of  Strahl's  brigade,  they  all  rode  up  on  the  eminence 
where  they  had  a  good  view  of  the  enemy's  lines.  As  soon  as 
the  Generals  reached  the  summit,  they  were  observed  by  the 
enemy  and  were  fired  upon  from  a  steel  battery,  not  more  than 
four  hundred  yards  in  our  front.  They  all  fell  back  out  of  sight 
and  of  range.  Gen.  Polk,  not  satisfied  with  the  view  he  had, 
rode  back  to  the  same  point  but  for  a  moment,  yet  one  moment 
too  long,  a  second  shot  from  the  same  battery  well  aimed  sent 
a  four  pound  shot  through  his  body,  killing  him  instantly.  In 
this  sad  calamity  we  sustained  a  loss  not  to  be  easily  filled. 
Gen.  Polk  was  a  brave  officer,  a  good  man  and  a  Christian  sol- 
dier. The  next  day,  the  15th  of  June,  our  regiment  was  trans- 
ferred to  Maney's  brigade  with  Col.  Walker  in  command,  and 
the  41st  Tennessee  was  taken  from  Maney  and  put  in  Strahl's 
brigade. 

As  Pine  Mountain  made  a  considerable  elbow  in  Johnson's 
line,  he  on  the  16th  of  June,  abandoned  this  point  and  thus 
straightened  his  line  and  shortened  it.  On  the  17th  Johnson 
swung  the  left  of  his  line  back  towards  the  railroad,  and  aero  ss 


120  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

• 

a  small  stream  called  Mud  Creek,  where  works  had  been  pre- 
pared for  us.  The  point  where  Cheatham's  and  Loring's 
divisions  joined  was  found  to  be  too  weak,  and  Johnson  swung 
still  further  around  with  his  left  crossing  Nose  creek,  but  still 
hanging  on  to  old  Kennesaw.  Cheatham's  division  occupied 
on  this  new  line  an  elevation  from  which  the  enemy  longed  to 
dislodge  him.  On  the  24th,  they  made  an  attack  on  this  part  of 
the  line  which  lasted  for  some  time,  and  which  was  an  utter 
failure  on  their  part.  In  all  these  engagements  of  Cheat- 
ham,  the  Old  Nineteenth  was  there,  with  her  battle-flag  all  torn 
and  tattered,  and  left  the  soil  more  sacred  by  being  stained  by 
the  life  blood  of  her  noble  men.  I  would  be  doing  injustice  to 
the  grand  old  regiment  if  I  did  not  say  the  Old  Nineteenth  was 
always  in  the  fight  and  always  on  the  firing  line,  and  if  it  were 
possible  for  the  roll  call  of  Cheatham's  division  to  be  made  of 
her  slain  in  battle,  when  the  name  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  would 
be  called,  there  would  come  from  the  bivouac  of  the  slain,  quick 
and  loud  the  answer,  here.  Johnson  still  held  Kennesaw  Moun 
tain,  and  on  this  line  which  was  nearly  parallel  with  the  rail- 
road, was  some  of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  war. 

OLD   KENNESAW. 

What  a  grand  view  from  this  grand  old  mountain.  Stand- 
ing in  bold  outline  a  little  north  of  west  from  Marietta  is  Pine 
Mountain,  dressed  in  its  dark  fringed  foliage,  through  which 
the  passing  winds  mournfully  sing  a  sad  requiem  to  the  memory 
of  General  Leonidas  Polk,  who  gave  up  his  life  on  its  summit, 
June  14th,  1864.  Further  on  and  southward  is  Lost  Mountain, 
standing  as  a  lone  sentinel  to  guard  the  bloody  fields  and  the 
dead  of  Dallas,  New  Hope  and  Pickett's  mills.  From  the 
western  base  of  Kennesaw  ran  Johnson's  line  in  a  southern  di- 
rection, for  perhaps  seven  miles,  and  parallel  to  his,  ran  the 
line  of  the  ever  vigilent  enemy,  watching  his  chance  to  break 
Johnson's  lines  and  route  him  from  the  field.  For  days  on  this 
line  the  blue  smoke  from  the  guns  outlined  our  position,  and  at 
night  it  was  lit  up  with  the  red  glow  of  the  artillery  and  small 
arms.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th,  there  was  a  noticeable 
restlessness  and. an  unusual  movement  of  the  enemy's  troops. 

Sherman  began  an  advance  all  along  in  front  of  Johnson's 
line.  The  cry  rang  out  up  and  down  the  line,  they  come,  they 
come,  and  from  left  to  right  and  right  to  left  the  music  of  bat- 
tle rang,  and  our  men  sent  volley  after  volley  into  the  ranks  of 
the  advancing  foe. 


OLD   KENNESAW.  llM 

Oh  my!  the  cannons  bellowed  like  so  many  mad  bulls,  sent 
shot  and  shell  plowing  the  ground,  scattering  rocks,  dirt  and 
everything  inoveable,  cutting  down  trees  and  felling  limbs  as  if 
the  air  and  tree  tops  were  full  of  invisible  sappers  and  miners. 
At  times,  from  the  roar  and  smoke  of  battle,  we  fought  neither 
by  sound  nor  sight.  The  air  was  so  full  of  sulphurious  smoke 
of  battle  we  could  not  see,  and  the  roar  of  musketry  so  continu- 
ous we  could  not  distinguish  the  report  of  our  gun  from  that 
of  the  one  by  our  side,  and  could  only  tell  by  the  rebound  of  the 
gun  whether  it  had  gone  off  or  not.  Maney's  brigade,  in  which 
the  Old  Nineteenth  now  was,  held  a  position  on  this  line  known 
as  Dead  angle. 

Here  Thomas  charged  our  line,  coming  with  a  frenzied 
bravery  column  after  column,  while  our  cannon  and  musketry 
played  upon  them  cutting  them  down  like  grass  before  the  sickle. 
They  kept  filling  up  and  coming  on  until  they  were  in  a  few  steps 
of  our  line,  when  they  halted,  turned  and  back  to  their 
ditches,  but  to  rally  and  come  again.  O  what  a  slaughter  was 
here.  Braver  men  never  fought  than  those  Thomas  had,  but 
their  bravery  only  led  them  to  their  death.  Many  of  their  men 
recached  our  ditches,  only  to  find  a  last  resting  place. 

Here  a  brave  boy, 'a  Federal  color-bearer,  a  Tennessee  boy, 
crazed  with  the  excitement  of  the  hour,  actually  planted  his 
colors  on  our  works  when  they  were  seized  by  a  Captain  of  a 
Tennessee  Confederate  regiment  and  a  struggle  ensued.  The 
color-bearer  drew  his  pistol  and  shot  the  captain  dead.  While 
the  smoking  pistol  was  yet  in  his  hand,  he  was  riddled  with 
bullets  from  a  dozen  Confederate  guns.  Verily  this  was  "steel 
against  steel,"  and  "diamond  cut  diamond,"  here  with  Cheat- 
ham.  Of  the  two  contending  forces  each  one  could  but  admire 
the  bravery  of  the  other.  Not  only  with  Cheatharn,  Cleburne 
and  Walker,  but  all  along  Johnson's  line  from  one  end  to  the 
other  was  one  blaze  of  fire  and  roar  of  battle. 

Around  old  Kennesaw's  base,  so  rapid  was  the  bombard- 
ment from  Sherman's  one  hundred  guns,  and  from  those  on  our 
side,  that  it  seemed  ablaze  with  fire.  The  bursting  shells  and 
deadly  missiles  from  the  guns  of  the  two  contending  armies, 
made  the  old  mountain  seem  like  a  grand  volcano.  Language 
would  fail  to  picture  this  field  of  butchery  with  its  dead  and 
wounded.  The  Federals  came  with  a  huzzah,  only  to  be  hurled 
back  with  the  wild  "Rebel  yell."  General  French  who  sat  on 


122  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

top  of  Kennesaw  mountain  and  beheld  the  entire  battle  scene 
below,  says: 

"We  sat  there  perhaps  an  hour  or  more  enjoying  a  bird's- 
eye  view  of  one  of  the  most  magnificent  sights  ever  allotted 
to  man;  to  look  down  upon  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men 
arrayed  in  strife  of  battle  on  the  plain  below.  As  the  infantry 
closed  in,  the  blue  smoke  of  the  musketry  marked  out  our  line 
for  miles,  while  over  it  rose  in  cumuli  like  clouds,  the  white 
smoke  of  the  artillery.  Through  the  rift  of  the  smoke,  as  it 
was  wafted  aside  by  the  winds,  we  could  see  the  assault  made 
on  Cheatham,  and  the  struggle  was  hard  and  there  it  lasted 
longest.  So  many  guns  were  trained  on  those  by  our  side,  and 
so  incessant  was  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  sharp  explosion  of 
the  shells  that  naught  else  could  be  heard." 

All  along  the  line  the  fighting  was  desperate  and  beyond 
description.  To  the  credit  of  the  enemy,  no  braver  men  bore 
the  standard  of  stars  and  stripes,  than  the  army  Sherman  sent 
to  wrest  old  Kennesaw  from  the  grasp  of  Johnson  this  memor- 
able 27th  of  June.  And  to  the  credit  of  the  Confederate  army, 
under  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson,  who  is  deserving  of  greater 
praise  because  they  were  much  fewer  in  number,  yet  met  the 
storm  and  stood  as  firm  as  the  base  of  old  Kennesaw  around 
which  they  fought.  There  was  not  a  single  point  on  Johnson's 
line  where  the  men  wavered  for  a  single  moment.  They  fought, 
not  with  haphazard  aim,  but  deliberation  and  judgement.  In 
Walker's  division,  an  incident  occured,  clearly  showing  the 
heroism  of  the  Southern  soldier,  a  schrapnel  shot  came  through 
under  the  head  log  and  fell  in  the  ditch  among  the  men,  which 
for  the  instant  caused  a  stampede,  but  while  the  fuse  was  yet 
burning,  a  sergeant  of  a  Georgia  regiment  leaped  forward, 
seized  the  deadly  projectile  and  threw  it  out  of  the  ditch,  when 
it  exploded  without  doing  any  harm.  In  front  of  Cheatham 
many  of  the  enemy's  dead  lay  on  the  ground  until  the  third  day 
after  the  battle,  exposed  to  the  hot  sun.  No  one  dared  to  ven- 
ture to  them,  or  show  any  part  of  their  body  above  the  head 
log.  A  truce  covering  Cheatham's  division  was  agreed  upon, 
lasting  one  hour  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  dead.  During 
that  hour  the  ground  between  the  two  lines  was  thronged  with 
the  Blue  and  the  Gray,  who  met  as  friend  meets  friend.  To  them 
the  hour  seemed  to  expire  in  a  moment,  and  soon  they  were 
back  in  the  ditches  fighting  again.  At  one  point  on  Cheatham's 


OLD   KENNESAW.  123 

line  the  two  armies  were  so  close  that  we  had  to  cut  traverse 
ditches  through  which  the  men  had  to  go  in  and  out  of  our 
ditches,  and  even  then  it  was  exceedingly  dangerous.  A  hat 
raised  on  the  end  of  a  stick  above  the  head  log,  would  be  filled 
with  bullet  holes  in  less  than  a  minute.  For  thirty  days  and 
nights  the  fighting  had  been  one  continuous  battle.  The  coun- 
try all  around  was  cut  up  with  entrenchments  and  honeycombed 
with  rifle  pits,  and  the  woods  looked  as  dreary  and  as  desolate  as 
if  it  had  been  swept  by  a  tornado. 

During  the  thirty  days  fighting  around  Dallas,  New  Hope  and  \ 
Kennesaw,    the  Old  Nineteenth  lost  many  of  her  noble  and  \ 
brave  men.    Two  of  whom  we  make  mention,  because  we  had   j 
more  to  do  with  them  after  their  death,  than  with  others.    John 
White,  of  Company  E,  is  one  of  whom  we  speak  first.     He  was 
an  educated  and  polished  young  man,  related  to  some  of  the 
best  families  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee.    John  White  was  almost 
torn  to  pieces  with  a  shell.     When  we  reached  him,  which  was 
in  a  short  time,  we  did  what  we  could.    We  took  out  of  his 
his  bowels  a  piece  of  shell  that  would  weigh  two  pounds,  deeply 
imbedded.    We  shall  never  forget  the  expression  of  anguish 
and  despair  that  rested  upon  his  sad  pale  face. 

He  talked  but  little,  but  that  little  was  an  earnest  exhortation 
to  those  around  him.  The  last  audible  words  he  ever  spoke 

were,  "boys,  don't  live  as  I  have,  remember  my ,"   gone, 

the  battle  strife  will  not  molest  him  any  more.     We  carried  him  \ 
back  to  the  road  leading  to  Marietta,  where,  with  twelve  or  fif- 
teen dead,  we  lay  all  night  long  guarding  them.     The  next 
morning  we  carried  him  to  Marietta  and  buried  him. 

The  other  one  was  John  Spears,  of  Company  K,  who  was  also 
killed  the  next  day  on  this  line.  Spears  one  morning  was  going 
after  water  for  the  men  on  the  line.  He  had  fifteen  or  twenty 
canteens  across  his  shoulder  and  was  going  down  an  incline  to 
a  branch.  When  about  half  way  or  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
line,  a  shell  just  brushing  the  head  logs  on  the  line,  and  was  of 
the  kind  the  boys  say  "had  a  shuck  tied  to  its  tail,"  passed  on 
and  struck  Spears  and  tore  about  half  the  top  of  his  head  off. 
He  had  an  aunt  living  in  Marietta,  and  we  were  detailed  to  carry 
him  there  and  see  that  he  was  buried.  We  found  his  aunt  about 
noon.  While  it  was  a  sad  meeting,  she  did  not  forget  us  but 
urged  that  we  remain  and  take  dinner.  We  could  not  refuse, 
and  persuasion  was  not  needed.  Nearly  two  long  years  had 


124  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

gone  by  since  we  had  eaten  in  a  house  or  at  a  table.  We  were 
sorry  for  her,  poor,  sad,  but  kind-hearted  woman,  sitting  down 
to  the  table  she  could  not  eat,  but  we  were  too  busily  engaged 
just  then  to  think  of  the  dead.  There  were  thousands  of  dead 
left  on  the  blood-stained  fields  of  this  Kennesaw  region,  to  sleep 
through  the  ages,  whom  the  loud  cannon's  roar  cannot  awake 
to  glory  again. 

Sherman  not  being  able  to  move  Johnson  by  direct  attack, 
began  his  flank  movement  again.  He  sent  McPherson  and 
Schofield  around  our  left  and  thought  to  gain  Johnson's  rear 
at  Ruff's  and  Smyrna.  But  Sherman  found  Johnson  as  ready 
to  meet  him  as  at  any  time  past.  This  move  of  Sherman's 
caused  Johnson  not  only  to  abandon  Kennesaw  and  Marietta, 
but  all  the  country  he  had  struggled  so  hard  to  hold.  At  Ruff's 
during  the  morning  of  the  third,  the  enemy's  pickets  came  up 
only  a  short  distance,  not  enough  to  tell  whether  an  enemy  was 
there  or  not. 

AT   SMYRNA. 

The  next  morning,  the  emerny  supposing  there  was  no  one  in 
their  front,  were  more  bold.  Stanley  came  up  and  pressed  vig- 
orously forward  as  if  no  one  was  there  to  challenge,  but  a  sur- 
prise awaited  him.  He  soon  found  his  division  in  a  perfect 
hornet's  nest.  The  sheet  of  lead  that  came  from  the  hidden 
lines  of  the  Confederates  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  grape 
and  canister  from  several  batteries,  caused  them  to  return  in 
hot  haste  across  the  field  over  which  they  had  just  come.  They 
left  a  few  of  their  number  lying  on  the  field  dead  and  wounded, 
not  taking  time  to  look  after  them.  Johnson  remained  here 
some  two  or  three  days,  then  he  crossed  the  Chattahoochee 
river  where  he  formed  his  lines  close  along  its  banks,  where  we 
remained  for  several  days.  In  the  meantime  Sherman  moved 
the  greater  part  of  his  army  to  our  right  and  up  the  river,  where 
he  too  crossed  at  different  points.  Schofield  crossed  seven  miles 
above  the  railroad  at  Phillip's  ferry  at  the  mouth  of  Soap  creek. 
McPherson  crossed  seven  or  eight  miles  further  up  at  Rosswell's 
ferry.  Before  Sherman  crossed  the  river  it  was  the  dividing 
line  between  the  two  armies.  Our  videttes  and  those  of  the  en- 
emy sat  upon  opposite  banks  of  the  Chattahoochee  and 
chatted  with  each  other.  Now  and  then  they  would  swim  across 
to  each  other's  post,  while  some  would  keep  a  look-out  for  the 
officers  of  their  respective  commands.  They  had  been  fighting 


AT   SMYKNA.  125 

so  long  on  the  picket  line,  now  they  seemed  glad  for  a  change 
and  for  a  time  when  they  could  hold  a  friendly  chat '.as  they  had 
done  before.  They  exchanged  pocket  knives,  combs  and  any- 
thing they  had,  so  long  as  the  river  divided  the  videttes.  After 
Sherman  crossed  he  moved  around  on  our  right  towards  At- 
lanta. Johnson  moved  out  from  the  river  and  formed  his  lines 
on  or  near  Peach-tree  creek,  which  obstructed  Sherman's  march. 
Sherman  had  intended  celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July  in  At- 
lanta, but  Johnson  objected. 

Johnson  had  formed  his  lines  for  a  firm  stand  on  Peach-tree 
creek  for  another  bold  fight.  Late  in  the  eveing  he  was  hand- 
ing out  instructions  to  the  various  commanders  for  the  next 
day's  action  when  he  received  the  following  telegram : 

"Lieut. -Gen.  J.  B.  Hood  has  been  commissioned  to  the  tem- 
pory  rank  of  General  under  the  late  laws  of  Congress.  I  am 
directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  inform  you  that,  as  you  have 
failed  to  arrest  the  advance  of  tbe  enemy  to  the  vicinity  of  At- 
lanta and  express  no  confidence  that  you  can  defeat  or  repel 
him,  you  are  hereby  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army 
and  Department  of  Tennessee,  which  you  will  immediately  turn 
over  to  General  Hood."  S.  COOPEK, 

Ad'jt  and  Inspector  General. 

So  we  see  that  "Richmond  on  the  James"  had  already  de- 
creed the  end  of  Johnson's  command  of  the  Army  of  Tennes- 
see. There  is  not  one  who  could  have  done  as  well  as  he.  This 
was  a  death  knell  to  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  Was  the  finger 
of  God  in  this  I  We  will  see  later.  With  bowed  heads  and  sor- 
rowful hearts  the  Army  of  Tennessee  yielded  to  the  mandate  of 
fate.  We  were  surprised  and  the  news  of  the  change  came  to 
the  men  like  a  clap  of  thunder  from  a  clear  sky.  And  as  Sher- 
men  said,  this  was  as  giving  to  him  twenty  thousand  men.  We 
give  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  men  killed  and  wounded  since 
we  left  Adairsville : 

KILLED. 

White,  John Co.  E        Roller,  James Co.  G 

Kincaid,  C.  F "    "         Spears,  John "     " 

McRoberts,  J "   F 


126  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

WOUNDED. 

Hutton,  Andy Co.  B        Demurs,  A.  J Co.  F 

Barren,  Daniel "    "        McJenkins,  Sol "  " 

Gentry,  Joshua "    D        Swann,  S.  G "  " 

Bradley,  Benj "    "        Thomas,  C.  W "  " 

Barnett,   F "    "        Watts,  William "  " 

Cantral,  James "    "        Hale,   Elijah "  G 

Vestal,  Billie "   E        Stricklin,   Rube "  '* 

McRoberts,   J "    F        Miller,  T.  L "  K 

Hood,  L "    "       Holt,  G.  W "  " 

Brown,   John Burrows,   Henry "  " 

Carnett,   Leander "    " 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  F.  M.  WALKER. 

General  Frank  M.  Walker  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  a  Teuuesseean 
by  adoption.  His  adopted  home  was  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  Served  as  Lieuten- 
ant in  a  Kentucky  company  in  the  Mexican  war.  Raising  a  company  of 
infantry  in  Chattanooga,  he  joined  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment,  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  regiment  at  Knoxville,  in  June,  1861,  was  elected  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. At  the  reorganization,  in  1862,  he  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
regiment.  He  was  a  conscientious  Christian,  a  brave  soldier  and  a  kind  officer. 
He  was  killed  the  22d  of  July,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  one  of  the  fiercest  battles 
of  the  war. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


AROUND  ATLANTA. 

T3EFORE  starting  out  with  General  Hood  as  commander  of 
L)  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  whom  we  do  not  censure,  we 
must  say  we  could  not  see  why  Johnson  was  removed. 
Johnson's  idea  of  warfare  did  not  consist  of  butchery  or  use- 
less sacrifice.  With  his  small  army  he  acted  on  the  defensive, 
and  only  fought  when  he  was  certain  of  doing  the  most  good. 
No  one  else  could  have  done  more  than  he,  with  the  means  at 
his  command. 

In  looking  at  the  situation  with  all  the  facts,  what  Johnson 
had  accomplished  with  the  insufficient  force  he  had,  it  would 
seem,  there  was  a  hand  unseen,  a  "Vis  a  tergo,"  other  than 
Davis  and  his  cabinet,  moving  the  events  on  the  great  chess 
board  of  time.  That  a  mistake  was  made  time  will  tell. 

That  Gen.  J.  B.  Hood  was  a  bold,  brave,  intrepid  fighter  no 
one  will  deny ;  was  all  scarred  and  crippled  from  wounds  received 
in  battle,  which  he  did  carry  as  mementos  through  life.  At 
Gettysburg  he  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  ever  after  it  hung 
paralized  and  useless  at  his  side,  and  at  Chickamauga  he  lost  a 
leg.  Brave  to  greatness  and  true  to  his  country's  call,  General 
Hood  with  one  leg  and  one  arm,  remained  with  the  army  and  at 
the  head  of  his  command  showing  such  pluck  and  indomitable 
courage,  that  the  enemy  styled  him  the  "one  armed,  one  legged 
fighting  devil."  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  18th,  Gen.  Hood 
rode  to  Gen.  Johnson's  headquarters  and  remained  with  him 
all  day,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  his  plans  for  the  battle  then 
hourly  expected.  On  Hood  taking  command  of  the  army,  we 
lost  our  division  commander,  Gen.  Cheatham,  who  was  put  in 
command  of  Hood's  old  corps,  and  Gen.  S.  D.  Lee  took  Cheat- 
ham's  division.  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart  was  given  Polk's  old  corps. 

Hood's  line  of  battle  was  Hardee's  corps  on  the  right,  Stew- 
art's in  the  center  and  Cheatham's  on  the  left.  This  formed 


128  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

the  line  of  battle  of  Peachtree  creek.  The  battle  ground  was 
rough  and  uneven,  and  Stewart's  men  were  the  only  ones  en- 
gaged here,  and  had  to  cross  a  ravine  to  reach  the  enemy's 
works.  The  battle  did  not  materialize  as  was  expected.  Mc- 
Pherson  and  Gresham  already  on  our  right,  were  far  advanced 
towards  Atlanta,  which  forced  Hood  to  draw  Cleburne's  divi- 
ion  from  Hardee's  corps  to  meet  them.  Hardee  did  not  press 
the  fight  in  front  of  him.  Sherman  continued  the  advance  of 
his  army  towards  Atlanta,  and  Hood  fell  back  and  occupied  the 
ditches  in  and  around  the  city.  McPherson  continued  his  line 
of  march  around  Atlanta  and  across  the  Atlanta  and  Augusta 
railroad  with  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth  and  the  Seventeenth 
army  corps  until  they  were  southeast  of  the  city  where  they 
quietly  settled  down,  as  he  thought,  in  perfect  security. 

During  the  night  of  the  21st  of  July,  Hardee's  corps  made  a 
rapid  night  march  of  some  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  and  made  an 
attack  on  McPherson  early  in  the  morning  of 

JULY  22ND. 

We  reached  and  crossed  the  creek  at  Cobb's  mill  in  the  rear 
of  Sherman  and  made  the  attack  from  a  direction  least  expected 
by  the  enemy.  Hardee  was  behind  them.  The  angry  peals 
of  artillery,  and  the  roll  of  musketry  that  greeted  the  ears  of 
Sherman  and  McPherson  as  they  stood  together  near  Sherman's 
headquarters  must  have  startled  them  from  their  feeling  of  se- 
curity. Sherman,  looking  in  the  direction  a  way.  from  the  sup- 
posed Confederate  army  exclaimed  "what  does  that  mean?"  to 
which  McPherson  said  "I  will  go  and  see."  He  did,  but  never 
returned.  Our  men  were  pouring  shot  hot  and  heavy  into  the 
15th  and  16th  army  corps,  when  McPherson  left  Sherman  and 
hastened  with  all  possible  speed  with  only  a  portion  of  his  staff 
to  the  scene  of  action. 

Before  he  was  aware  of  danger  he  ran  upon  a  column  of 
Cheatham's  division  headed  by  our  brigade,  in  the  line  of  battle 
in  a  skirt  of  woods  right  in  his  rear.  The  brigade  was  Maney's 
in  which  was  the  Old  Nineteenth,  and  commanded  by  Colonel 
Walker.  McPherson  rode  up  close  to  us  before  he  observed  we 
were  Confederates,  when  he  was  halted  and  commanded  to  sur- 
render. But  acting  upon  the  first  impulse  of  the  moment,  he 
turned  to  escape,  when  a  volley  from  our  regiment  was  fired 
and  Gen.  McPherson  fell  from  his  horse,  killed,  and  one  or  two 
of  his  staff  wounded  and  captured,  only  one  made  his  escape. 


ABOUND    ATLANTA.  129 

Cheathani's  division  pressed  forward  to  their  works  and  into 
the  hottest  of  the  fight,  breaking  Logan's  line  and  capturing 
two  or  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  two  hundred  men.  The  en- 
my's  line  of  works  at  this  place  formed  an  obtuse  angle,  the 
point  of  which  our  regiment  approached. 

Here  John  Mason,  our  color  bearer,  displayed  remarkable 
courage.  He  ran  forward  several  steps  ahead  of  the  regiment 
and  planted  the  colors  on  the  enemy's  works.  In  this  charge 
Col.  F.  M.  Walker  fell,  and  here  the  brave  and  faithful  soldier, 
JohnTempleton,  of  Co.  A,  also  fell.  Templeton  was  always  at 
roll  call  when  not  sick  or  on  duty.  In  this  charge,  which  was  a 
desperate  one,  the  enemy  were  driven  back,  but  soon  made  a 
charge  on  us,  in  which  they  recaptured  the  guns  we  had  taken 
from  them.  In  this  second  charge  Captain  Paul  McDermott  and 
Sergeant  John  Richards,  of  Company  H,  were  mortally  wounded; 
Tom.  Duitt  and  John  Long,  of  Company  A,  were  killed;  Silas 
Bookard  was  wounded  and  died  shortly  afterwards.  There  had 
not  been  much  harder  fighting  anywhere  than  was  done  in  this 
battle.  Gen.  Hardee  lost  heavily,  but  the  enemy's  loss  must 
have  been  greater,  their  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured 
was  about  five  thousand.  Our  brigade  lost  one  hundred  and 
forty.  The  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  had  her  share  of  casual- 
ties, as  usual.  Our  field  hospital  was  back  on  the  ridge,  near 
Cobb's  mill,  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  battlefield. 

When  Hardee  returned  to  the  city  and  to  his  position  around 
the  works,  a  detail  was  made  to  remain  in  the  hospital  with  the 
wounded,  of  whom  were  more  Federals  than  Confederates. 
From  this  field  hospital,  looking  across  the  Federal  lines,  we 
could  see  the  spires  and  the  smoke  of  the  city,  which  was  not 
more  than  four  miles  away. 

The  writer  was  one  of  the  detail  to  remain  in  the  field  hospi- 
tal and,  of  course  to  be  made  a  prisoner,  as  the  Federals  were 
all  around  us. 

There  were  a  few  of  our  regiment  left,  wounded  so  badly  they 
could  not  be  taken  away.  While  we  did  not  like  the  idea  of 
being  prisoner,  duty  to  our  boys,  and  obedience  to  orders,  we 
remained  willingly.  Capt.  Paul  McDermott  and  Sergt.  John 
Richards  died,  and  we  helped  bury  them;  one  on  the  hill-side, 
the  other  near  the  creek  a  hundred  yards  below  the  mill.  All 
of  our  regiment  who  were  left  in  the  field  hospital  died,  but  we 
remained  longer  to  help,  and  do  what  we  could,  in  relieving  the 
suffering  of  the  Federals  who  were  wounded. 


130  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

Col.  Walker,  Capt.  McDermott  and  Sergt.  Richards  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Col.  Walker  was  a  brave 
and  noble  man,  to  love  him  was  but  to  know  him.  We  never 
saw  him  do  anything  unbecoming  a  Christian,  nor  did  we  ever 
hear  him  utter  a  word  that  could  not  have  been  spoken  in  the 
presence  of  ladies.  We  were  with  him  all  the  time  on  the 
march,  and  in  camp  our  tent  was  pitched  near  his. 

Capt.  McDermott  was  a  stern, but  not  overbearing  man,he  hated 
any  one  who  shirked  duty,  and  admired  bravery  and  fortitude 
wherever  found.  On  every  battlefield  were  found  those  who 
stirred  our  sympathies  to  the  very  bottom,  both  of  our  friends 
and  our  foes.  Here  we  found  a  Federal  boy,  not  more  than  six- 
teen years  old,  who  had  both  eyes  shot  out,  was  wounded  in  the 
body  and  in  the  leg.  He  was  brought  back  with  our  wounded 
and  had  been  laid  on  the  ground  to  await  his  turn  for  attention. 
We  found  him  lying  out  in  the  hot  sun  and  placed  him  in  the 
shade  again,  gave  him  water  and  made  him  as  comfortable  as 
the  surroundings  would  permit.  We  found  in  our  conversation 
that  he  was  the  only  son  of  a  widow  and  had  been  in  the  army 
only  three  months.  He  had  left  home  for  the  excitement  and 
novelty  of  a  soldier's  life,  and  had  gotten  more  than  he  expected. 
With  a  trembling  voice,  his  heart  bleeding  with  sorrow,  he  told 
me  he  wished  he  had  never  left  home  and  mother,  for  now  he 
would  never  see  them  again.  He  belonged  to  an  Illinois  regi- 
ment; poor  boy,  he  had  our  sympathy.  We  remained  here  four 
or  five  days,  and  having  no  more  of  our  regiment  to  look  after, 
we  asked  our  surgeon,  Dr.  Dulaney,  permission  to  return  to  our 
regiment.  He  had  no  objection  if  we  were  willing  to  take  the 
risk  of  a  re-capture.  We  took  the  risk,  flanked  both  the  Feder- 
als and  our  own  lines,  and  reached  the  city  and  our  own  regi- 
ment in  safety.  We  give  a  few  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of 
our  regiment  in  this  engagement: 

KILLED. 

Col.  F.  M.  Walker. 

Duitt,  Tom Co.  A  Sharp,  Lieut,  J.  F Co.  F 

Templeton,  John "    "  Rhea,  Robert  J "    G 

Long,  John "    "  Ferris,  Sam "    " 

Yorkely,  Mike "    C  Chamberlain,  George . .  "    " 

Kennedy,  Thomas "    "  McDermott,  Capt,  P.  H.  "H 

Kline, Thomas "    "  Richards,  Sergt.  John.  "    " 


AROUND   ATLANTA.  131 

WOUNDED. 

Bookard,  Silas Co.  A  King,  William Co.  C 

Brabson,  Lieut.  T.M...  "  B  Col  ville,  Lieut,  R.  W. ..  "  D 

Ramsey,  John "  "  Dyer,  D.  H "  " 

Epperson,    John '  Vestal,  Billie "  E 

Fulkerson,  George '  Waggoner,  George u  G 

Hodge,  James "  "  Godsey,  C.  W "  " 

McCreary,  H Co.  G 

We  lay  around  Atlanta  in  the  ditches,  fighting  more  or  less 
every  day,  until  the  latter  part  of  August.  The  writer  had  to 
go  into  the  city  and  to  the  depot  frequently.  We  were  at  the 
depot  one  morning  when  the  Federals  shelled  the  city,  seemingly 
with  the  intention  of  setting  it  on  fire,  for  several  buildings  were 
set  on  fire,  one  large  brick  building  filled  with  cotton,  and  it 
burned  for  weeks.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  depot  the  shells  fell 
thick  and  fast,  killing  and  wounding  a  great  many.  There  were 
two  brick  depots,  with  a  space  of  fifteen  feet  between  them. 
We  were  standing  in  this  space  and  a  shell  burst  a  few  feet 
over  our  head,  the  pieces  falling  all  around  us,  two  or  three  of 
which  struck  the  floor  within  an  inch  of  our  feet,  but  we  were 
not  hurt. 

After  the  battle  of  the  22nd  of  July,  Gen.  Cheatham  came 
back  to  his  old  division  and  Gen  S.  D.  Lee  took  command  of 
Hood's  old  corps.  The  Tennesseeans  were  glad  to  get  their  old 
commander  again,  and  Gen.  Cheatham  seemed  equally  as  glad, 
for  there  was  an  affection  between  he  and  his  men  that  was 
sweet  to  enjoy.  Gen.  Sherman  had  now  nearly  encircled  At- 
lanta. He  had  sent  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  army  corps, 
under  Dodge  and  Blair  respectively,  around  west  of  the  city  to 
Ezra  Church.  Hood  sent  Lee  to  attack  them,  and  if  nothing 
more,  to  hold  them  from  joining  Logan  and  Ranson,  whom 
Hardee  had  gone  to  attack  near  Jonesboro.  Lee,  on  the  28th 
of  August,  attacked  Logan  at  the  Ezra  Church,  but  failing  to 
drive  him  back,  fell  back  himself  and  joined  Hardee  at  Jones- 
boro. Here  Hardee,  at  3 : 30  in  the  evening  of  September  the  1st, 
attacked  Logan  and  Ranson.  The  fight  was  stubborn  and  heavy, 
lasting  until  after  dark,  when,  seemingly,  by  mutual  consent,  the 
two  armies  began  to  retire,  and  moved  in  the  same  direction 
and  almost  on  the  same  road.  We  moved  about  two  miles  and 
went  into  camp;  the  two  armies,  it  might  be  said,  occupied  the 
the  same  field  and  the  same  skirt  of  woods,  at  the  same  time. 


132  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

A   STRANGE   SCENE. 

It  was  after  dark  when  the  writer  left  the  battlefield.  We 
were  on  the  field  with  the  litter  corps  when  the  regiment  began 
moving  from  the  scene  of  action;  we  moved  with  it  and  left  the 
others  of  the  litter  and  surgeon's  corps  behind.  Halting  about 
two  miles  from  the  battlefield,  the  entire  corps  of  Hardee  went 
into  bivouac.  The  whole  country  was  full  of  soldiers  and  soon 
fires  began  to  kindle  up,  and  the  Confederates  did  not  have  half 
the  fires  that  were  made.  You  could  not  tell  where  the  fires  of 
the  enemy  ended,  nor  where  those  of  the  Confederates  began. 
Dr.  Dulaney  and  two  of  the  litter  corps,  who  came  up  after  the 
regiment  had  moved,  had  quite  an  experience  in  finding  our 
command.  The  first  regiment  he  came  to  in  camp,  nearly  all 
the  men  were  lying  down,  with  but  few  fires  visible  anywhere. 
The  Doctor  inquired  whose  regiment  it  was,  and  was  astonished 
•  to  learn  that  it  was  the  seventeenth  Ohio,  not  betraying  his  as- 
tonishment, the  Doctor  said,  "boys^  our  regiment  is  further  on." 
Turning  from  this  regiment  he  went  on  further  and  inquired 
again,  but  to  learn  that  it  was  the  fourth  Indiana.  Now  he  was 
puzzled  to  know  which  way  to  go.  Seeing  a  line  of  fires  but 
two  hundred  yards  to  the  right,  he  made  for  these,  and  found 
them  to  be  those  of  the  Old  Nineteenth.  The  Federals  and  our 
men  took  rails  from  the  same  fence,  filled  canteens  from  the 
same  branch  at  the  same  time,  almost  touching  heads,  as  each 
leaned  from  opposite  sides.  Your  humble  writer  was  standing 
by  a  small  camp  fire  just  started  up,  alone,  when  a  soldier  came 
up,  and  threw  from  his  shoulder  a  load  of  rails.  He  was  a  Federal 
soldier.  There  we  were,  the  Blue  and  the  Gray  looking  at  each 
other;  neither  spoke,  and  he  returned  in  the  direction  from 
which  he  came.  Some  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  stepped  across  to 
the  Federal  camp  fire,  which  was  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
ours,  and  borrowed  some  picks  and  shovels  to  dig  rifle  pits,  and 
when  done  returned  them.  About  midnight  Gen.  Hardee  rode 
into  our  camp  and  asked  Arthur  Fulkerson,  of  Co.  K,  pointing 
to  some  camp  fires  about  one  hundred  yards  off  in  a  skirt  of 
woods,  whose  command  it  was.  Arthur  told  him  they  were  the 
enemy.  Gen.  Hardee  thought  he  must  be  mistaken.  "No," 
said  Arthur,  "our  men  have  just  been  over  there  and  borrowed 
some  picks  and  shovels  and  have  returned  them."  Arthur  said 
he  would  go  over  and  see  whose  command  it  was.  He  went 
over  there  but  did  not  return.  He  was  captured.  Gen.  Hardee 


AROUND   ATLANTA.  133 

then  knew  that  they  were  the  enemy.  The  camp  fires  revealed 
the  true  situation,  but  the  Confederates  were  the  only  ones  who 
found  it  out.  The  Federals  had  formed  around  us  a  horseshoe, 
unintentionally,  with  an  opening  of  about  four  hundred  yards, 
and  through  which,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  Gen. 
Hardee  moved  his  command  with  as  much  silence  as  ever  men- 
moved.  We  slipped  out  from,  the  grasp  of  the  enemy  so 
silently  that  they  did  not  know  we  were  gone  until  daylight. 
So  Arthur  Fulkerson  saved  Hardee. 

This  was  the  last  battle  of  the  campaign,  and  while  Hardee 
was  fighting  here  at  Jonesboro,  Hood  was  hurrying  everything 
away  from  Atlanta,  and  leaving  Atlanta  he  joined  Hardee  and 
Lee  below  Jonesboro,  at  Love  joy's  station,  where  we  remained 
for  several  days,  not  far  from  our  last  battle  ground.  We  lost 
out  of  our  old  regiment  several  killed  and  wounded.  We 
mourned  the  loss  of  the  many  battle-scarred  veterans  of  the  old 
Nineteenth  Tennessee,  who  found  a  quiet  resting  place  in  this 
campaign.  Many  are  the  places  hallowed  by  the  life-blood  of 
the  noble  Confederate  veterans.  Just  how  many  were  left  by 
the  way  side  since  we  left  Dalton  I  leave  to  the  many  silent 
mounds  to  tell.  The  Dalton  and  Atlanta  campaign  was  now 
ended.  Sherman  returned  to  Atlanta  and  for  a  few  days  and 
nights  not  a  sound  of  cannon  or  musketry  was  heard.  There 
was  a  feeling  of  sweet  rest,  for  the  present  at  least,  from  the 
toil  and  strife  of  battle.  All  the  regiments  were  so  reduced  by 
the  ravages  of  war,  that  they  were  but  mere  skeletons,  and  in 
order  to  make  them  more  respectable  there  was  ordered  a  con- 
solidation of  regiments.  In  the  consolidation  of  ours  with  oth- 
ers, there  were  three  in  one,  the  Nineteenth,  Twenty-fourth  and 
the  Forty-first,  and  the  new  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col. 
James  D.  Tillman,  but  kept  its  place  in  Strahl's  brigade.  So 
it  ran  throughout  the  whole  army,  yet  neither  regimebt  lost  its 
identity  or  individuality.  On  the  19th  of  September  the  army 
left  Jonesboro  and  moved  to  Palmetto,  on  the  Atlanta  and  West 
Point  railroad,  where,  after  fortifying,  we  sat  down  for  a  much 
needed  rest. 

The  following  were  wounded  in  the  Jonesboro  fight :  Isaac 
Brown  and  C.  C.  Majors,  Co.  D;  J.  J.  Johnson  Co.  G;  N. 
Richards  and  Andy  G.  Johnson,  Co.  K;  J.  J.  Johnson  died 
soon  after  he  was  wounded. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


VISIT   OF   PRESIDENT   DAVIS. 

THE  young  Confederacy  had  evidently  reached  a  crisis  in  its 
struggle  for  existence .  The  clouds  that  had  been  gathering 
to  obscure  the  future  prospects  of  the  Confederacy,  were  be- 
coming more  dark  and  portentious.  At  this  juncture  of  affairs 
President  Jefferson  Davis,  Ho  well  E.  Cobb  and  others  paid  the 
army  of  Tennessee  a  visit.  Something  had  to  be  done  to  infuse 
new  life  and  vigor  into  the  men.  Speeches  were  made  by  the 
President,  Cobb  and  others.  While  Cobb  was  speaking,  pour- 
ing his  sweet  sounding  words  in  our  ears,  a  private  halloed  out, 
"a  shell  or  two  would  knock  all  the  sweetness  out  in  less  than 
no  time."  The  hope  of  success  in  the  minds  of  the  soldiers 
had  begun  to  fade  and  grow  dim.  Davis  and  his  associates,  like 
the  weary  pilgrim,  "Could  tarry  but  a  night." 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  Davis,  Gen.  Hardee  resigned 
his  place  in  the  army  of  Tennessee,  and  took  command  else- 
where. Rumors  were  rife  in  camp,  as  to  what  was  coming 
next.  Some  said  Hardee  resigned  because  Hood  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  army  of  Tennessee,  but  this  proved  to  be  a  mis- 
take. Hurried  changes  were  made  in  all  the  regiments  and 
companies.  Capt.  J.  H.  Hannah  of  Co.  F.,  was  made  Major  of 
the  regiment  in  place  of  Maj .  Deaderick  who  had  been  promoted 
to  Colonel  of  another  regiment,  and  First  Lieutenant  J.  M. 
Sims  was  made  Captain  of  the  Company.  Maj.  Hannah  had 
been  Captain  of  Co.  F  ever  since  its  organization  in  June 
1861,  kind  hearted  and  esteemed  by  all,  he  made  a  good  sol- 
dier and  gained  the  respect  of  his  superior  officers.  Soon  as 
the  vacancy  was  made  by  the  promotion  of  Maj .  Deadrick  to  be 
Colonel  of  another  regiment,  Capt.  J.  H.  Hannah  was  made 
Major  of  the  Old  Nineteenth,  October  the  10th,  1864,  which  of- 
fice he  held  until  the  close  of  the  war. 


MAJOR  J.  H.  HANNAH. 

Major  Hannah  was  born  in  Polk  County,  Tenn.,  Mav  1838.  With  his 
father  and  four  brothers,  he  joined  Company  F,  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  Con- 
federate regiment,  and  in  the  organization  of  the  regiment  in  June,  1861,  he 
was  elected  Captain  of  the  company.  In  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment 
in  1862,  he  was  re-elected  Captain,  which  position  he  held  until  Octpb  r  1864, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the  regiment,  which  he  held  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  surrendered  with  the  regiment  in  1865. 


VISIT   OF   PRESIDENT   DAVIS.  135 

He  was  in  line  for  promotion  December  1863,  but  his  com- 
pany demurred,  so  he  did  not  present  his  claim  until  in  October 
18(>4.  Maj.  Hannah  came  of  patriotic  stock.  His  father,  who 
was  seventy-nine  years  old,  joined  Company  F.,  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee  regiment  at  its  formation,  with  five  sons,  one 
of  whom  was  Maj,  J.  H.  Hannah,  but  his  father  being  too  old 
did  not  remain. 

Lieutenant  J.  A.  Kinibrough  was  made  Captain  of  Company 
H.,  in  place  of  Capt.  Paul  McDerniott,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  22nd  of  July.  Lieut,  B.  F.  Hoyle,  of  Co.  H.,  resigned 
and  went  to  other  fields  of  service.  The  boys  hated  to  give 
Lieut,  Hoyle  up,  they7  loved  him,  for  he  had  been  with  them  so 
long. 

September  the  28th,  the  army  was  again  put  in  motion,  and 
our  faces  this  time  turned  towards  Tennessee,  but  when  we 
would  reach  the  goal  of  our  anxious  hearts,  was  hidden  in  the 
womb  of  the  future. 

On  our  way  we  passed  to  the  left  of  Atlanta,  and  not  far 
from  Kennesaw  mountain  which  stands  with  towering  head, 
keeping  lone  vigil  over  the  thousands  slain  in  battle  around 
her.  The  record  of  the  battle  fought  here  will  be  handed  down 
the  coming  ages,  keeping  prominent  in  history,  this  now  fa- 
mous mountain.  As  we  gaze  sadly  from  the  distance  it  seems 
we  can  still  see  the  lingering  smoke  of  battle,  and  hear  the 
sound  of  the  sanguine  strife.  The  enemy  being  in  Rome,  we 
flanked  that  city  and  reached  Dalton  on  the  14th.  The  Federals 
had  built  a  fort  011  the  hill  east  of  the  city,  and  it  was  garri- 
soned with  colored  troops  and  had  four  brass  guns  which  looked 
viciously  on  all  around.  We  soon  took  them  in  and  all  they 
had.  They  had  also  built  a  blockhouse  up  in  the  gap  at  Rocky 
Face,  and  had  in  it  a  small  force.  Gen.  Bate  moved  on  them 
and  demanded  a  surrender,  but  they  not  knowing  who  made 
the  demand,  refused,  thinking  perhaps  it  was  a  hurriedly  pass- 
ing scout,  who  would  soon  go  on.  But  when  Bate's  division 
came  in  sight  and  had  turned  a  battery  on  them  and  began  knock- 
ing down  their  fortress  they  quickly  gave  in. 

We  remained  here  but  two  days  and  nights.  Leaving  here, 
we  passed  through  the  Gap  at  Rocky  Face  and  turned  westward 
to  Lafayette  through  which  we  passed,  and  moved  on  to  Gads- 
den,  Alabama,  about  sixty-five  miles  from  Dalton,  Georgia, 
which  place  we  reached  October  the  21st,  where  we  rested  two 


136  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

or  three  days,  aud  where  we  drew  clothing  and  rations,  and 
having  no  use  for  money,  we  did  not  draw  any.  Leaving  Gads- 
den,  we  turned  our  course  northwest  and  headed  for  Decatur  on 
the  Tennessee. 

Soon  after  leaving  Gadsden  we  struck  Sand  mountain,  a 
dreary  and  desolate  looking  country.  After  a  march  of  seven- 
ty-five miles  we  reached  Decatur  on  the  17th,  where  we  found  a 
garrison  of  ten  thousand,  well  fortified,  with  a  fort  command- 
ing every  approach  to  the  city.  Hood  did  not  attempt  an  at- 
tack on  the  fort,  as  it  was  not  his  intention,  nor  could  he  have 
taken  it  without  considerable  loss  of  men  and  considerable  loss 
of  time,  which  just  now  seemed  to  be  of  more  value  than  men. 
And  too,  if  he  had  taken  the  place  without  the  loss  of  a  single 
man,  it  would  have  been  of  no  importance  to  the  army.  We 
remained  here,  however,  two  or  three  days,  with  pickets 
around  the  town,  from  the  river  above  to  the  river  below. 

Our  division  was  encamped  in  an  open  field  of  nearly  a  mile 
in  extent,  and  directly  in  front  of  their  fort,  and  near  a  small 
cemetery. 

During  the  evening  of  the  second  day,  we  (the  writer)  went 
out  to  our  vidette  post.  The  rifle  pits  were  just  large  enough 
for  three  men,  and  were  out  just  in  front  of  the  fort  which  stood 
on  an  elevation  over-looking  an  open  field  between  us,  and  not 
seeming  more  than  four  hundred  yards  away.  Now  and  then  a 
cannon  shot  from  the  fort  would  pass  over  us.  As  we  returned 
from  the  vidette  post,  and  had  gotten  about  thirty  or  forty  yards 
away,  there  came  a  shot  from  the  fort  which  was  aimed  at  us  to 
hurry  us  on.  It  struck  the  ground  about  a  hundred  yards  be- 
hind us,  bounding  and  striking  the  ground  about  every  forty 
yards,  passed  us  about  ten  feet  to  our  right  and  went  on  bound- 
ing to  the  woods. 

The  army  leaving  here,  we  counted  the  cross-ties  on  the  rail- 
road to  Tuscumbia,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  and  at  the  foot  of 
Mussle  Shoals,  which  we  reached  November  the  1st.  Here  Gen. 
Hood  expected  to  find  ample  supplies  of  all  kinds  for  the  cam- 
paign into  Tennessee,  the  pontoons  across  the  river  ready, 
everything  complete  so  he!  could  hurry  on  without  delay.  But 
no  supplies  were  there,  and  no  visible  signs  of  any  coming.  Gen. 
Beauregard  had  this  in  hand  and  had  promised  all  necessary 
supplies,  but  had  utterly  failed,  this  failure  was  certainly  against 
Hood  and  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  While  we  were  here,  tired  and 


ABOUT   FLORENCE.  137 

willing  to  rest,  we  were  more  willing  to  go  on  to  the  goal  of  our 
ambition,  once  more  to  be  on  Tennessee  soil.  No  one  but 
Beauregard  knew  why  everything  was  not  ready  and  waiting 
for  Hood.  After  days  of  anxious,  if  not  painful  waiting,  on 
Sunday  morning,  November  15th,  we  moved  out  with  banners 
flying  and  bands  playing  and  crossed  the  river  with  a  shout. 

We  passed  out  through  Florence  and  beyond  one  mile  and 
pitched  our  camp,  where  we  remained  until  the  21st,  still  wait- 
ing for  Beauregard's  supplies.  We  were  in  need  of  clothing  as 
well  as  commissary  and  ordnance  supplies.  So  poorly  clothed 
were  we,  that  we  could  not  but  expect  to  suffer,  as  the  winter 
had  set  in  with  a  perfect  blizzard,  with  snow  and  sleet.  The 
order  was  to  move  and  we  must  obey. 

We  started  out  from  Florence  early  in  the  morning  of  No- 
vember 21st,  one  of  the  coldest  days  of  the  winter,  in  rain,  sleet 
and  snow.  The  wind  blew  almost  a  hurricane  in  our  faces,  and 
with  the  snow,  was  almost  blinding.  All  day  long  we  plodded 
through  this  storm,  so  slow  we  could  hardly  keep  warm.  Late 
in  the  evening  we  halted  for  the  night,  passing  it  without  rest 
or  comfort  to  our  weary  and  cold  bodies.  We  had  gone  only 
about  twelve  miles,  and  a  hard  day's  travel.  The  next  morning 
the  storm  had  not  abated,  but  had  grown  in  intensity;  yet  on 
we  went,  combatting  wind,  sleet  and  snow.  The  second  night 
we  went  into  camp  about  eighteen  miles  from  our  camp  the 
night  before,  filed  into  the  woods  after  dark.  The  snow  and 
ice  covered  everything,  and  we  had  a  jolly  time  in  starting  our 
fires.  The  trees,  being  frozen,  fell  quickly  and  with  a  crash 
and  a  rattle,  falling  among  the  men,  which  kept  them  on  the 
lookout  all  the  time  from  being  caught  beneath  them.  It  is 
needless  to  say,  we  began  our  third  day's  march  under  difficul- 
ties and  hardships,  and  we  camped  that  night  in  four  miles  of 
Waynesboro: 

Hood  left  Florence  with  three  army  corps.  The  first  porps 
under  Gen.  Cheatham,  the  second  corps  under  Gen.  Stuart,  and 
the  third  corps  under  Gen.  Lee.  Maj.-Gen.  Brown  had  Gen. 
Cheatham's  old  division,  composed  of  four  brigades.  The 
roster  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  at  that  time  is  given  on  the 
following  page. 


138 


THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 


QQ      O 

g  I 
%  I 


fe     g 

o  8 
« 


53 


THIRD  CORPS. 

GEN.  S.  D.  LEE. 

Stevenson's 
Division. 

Brigade. 

Pettus. 
Palmer. 
Cummins. 

Clayton's 
Division. 

® 
| 

bJO 

'C 

ffl 

Gibson. 
Holtzclaw. 

Stovall. 

00      fi 

g'lg 
x  •** 

fi  >^v 

J3  •"> 
0  Q^ 
I"S 

o 

ffl 

Deas,  (w)   (c). 
Brantley. 
Managault,  (w). 
Sharp. 

SECOND  CORPS. 

GEN.  A.  P.  STEWART. 

Walthall's 
Division. 

Brigade. 

Shelley,  (Cantey's). 
Reynolds. 
Quarles,  (w). 

Loring's 
Division. 

Brigade. 

Featherston. 
Adams,  (k). 
Scott,  (w). 

French's 
Division. 

s 

1 

.s° 

« 

Ector. 
Cockrell,  (w). 
Sears,  (w)  (c). 

FIRST  CORPS. 

GEN.  B.  F.  CHEATHAM. 

Brown's 
Division. 

(W) 

Brigade. 

Strahl,  (k). 
Gist,  (k). 
Carter,  (k)   (Maney's.) 
Gordon,  (c). 

Bate's 
Division. 

QJ 

-3 

be 
"C 

« 

Smith,  (c). 
Jackson,  (c). 
Finley. 

Cleburne's 
Division. 

(K) 

Brigade. 

Polk,  (Lowery's). 
Govan,  (w). 
Granberry,  (k). 
Mercer,  (Smith's). 

(K)  Killed.         (W)  Wounded.         (C)  Captured. 


AT   COLUMBIA.  139 

On  November  the  twenty-eighth,  we  reached  Columbia, 
Tennessee,  and  found  the  enemy  in  considerable  force,  about 
thirty  thousand  strong,  and  were  entrenched  on  the  South  bank 
of  Duck  river.  As  soon  as  Hood  approached  Columbia,  the 
Federals  hastened  from  Pulaski,  and  other  points  around  in 
close  proximity  to  Columbia,  and  showed  a  stubborn  opposition 
to  Hood's  further  advance  into  Tennessee.  The  first  evening 
we  reached  Columbia,  all  of  Hood's  men  did  not  get  up,  arid 
but  little  of  his  artillery.  The  enemy  would  have  crossed  to 
the  north  side  of  the  river  that  night  but  it  was  too  stormy,  and 
neither  army  could,  or  did  not,  make  any  move  whatever.  Hood 
did  not  attack  the  enemy,  but  at  the  gray  dawn  of  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  head  of  Cheatham's  column  accompanied  by  Gen.  Hood, 
could  have  been  seen  crossing  the  river  six  miles  above  Colum- 
bia, and  making  with  rapid  strides  for  Spring  Hill.  From  Co- 
lumbia to  Spring  Hill  there  were  two  parallel  roads  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  apart,  one  an  old  abandoned  dirt,  the  other  a 
pike.  The  enemy,  as  early  as  we,  pushed  out  on  the  main  pike, 
while  we  took  the  old  dirt  road.  Now  it  was  nick  and  tuck 
which  would  get  to  Spring  Hill  first.  We  assumed  the  fox  trot 
the  greater  part  of  the  way.  Gen.  Forest,  who  had  beaten  us  to 
Spring  Hill,  had  entered  the  town,  but  was  being  driven  back 
by  Wagner's  andKimball's  division  of  the  enemy,  who  had  pro- 
ceeded Forrest  but  a  very  short  time,  when  we  arrived.  Cle- 
burne's  division  was  the  first  to  engage  the  enemy,  and  as 
Brown's  division,  to  which  the  Old  Nineteenth  belonged,  came 
up,  the  enemy  retired  towards  Franklin.  We  remained  here 
all  night. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


ON   TO   FRANKLIN. 

next  morning,  November  30th,  we  moved  out  for  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.      Stewart's   corps  was  in  front,  followed  by 
Cheatham;  and  Cheatham's  corps  moved  in  the  following 
order:    Brown's  division,  Cleburne's  and  Bate's;    then  came 
Johnson's  division  of  Lee's  corps.     The  other  divisions  of  Lee's 
corps  were  behind.    About  one  o'clock  that  evening  we  reached 
the  Winstead  hills,  a  ridge  crossing  the  Columbia  pike  at  right 
angle,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  out  from  Franklin. 

From  these  hills  to  the  town  was  an  open  plain,  with  noth- 
ing to  obscure  the  vision  save  here  and  there  small  clusters  of 
shrubbery.  The  ground  is  a  little  undulating,  with  a  gradual 
incline  up  to  the  works  of  the  enemy.  Out  in  the  front  of  the 
enemy,  and  about  the  center  of  our  right  wing,  had  been  a 
locust  thicket,  but  this  was  now  cut  down  and  made  into  an 
abatis.  Running  through  this  plot  of  ground  were  hedge  fences. 
The  23d  Army  Corps  of  the  Federals,  under  Schofield,  held  this 
part  of  their  line  from  the  river  above  town  to  the  point  where 
the  Carter  creek  pike  enters.  Their  right  was  held  by  the 
Fourth  Army  Corps,  under  Kimball. 

Schofield  had  thrown  a  heavy  line  of  infantry,  strongly  en- 
trenched, out  from  their  main  fortification,  and  a  skirmish  line 
still  beyond  this.  Their  main  fortification  stood  on  the  highest 
elevation,  extending  from  behind  the  Carter  House,  on  past  the 
Gin  house  towards  the  river.  This  fortification  literally  bristled 
with  cannon.  The  enemy  had  a  battery  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  that  not  only  enfiladed  our  whole  line,  but  raked 
our  entire  field.  Now  in  the  face  of  all  this  glittering  belt  of 
bayonet  and  cannon  waited  to  be  turned  loose  upon  us,  Hood 
advanced  without  the  least  faltering.  In  the  back  yard  of  the 
Carter  House,  between  it  and  the  enemy's  works,  stood  a  locust 
thicket.  Near  the  pike,  and  between  the  dwelling  and  the 


ON   TO   FRANKLIN.  141 

works,  stood  an  old  one-story  frame  house,  and  in  the  rear  of 
the  dwelling  was  a  brick  smoke  house.  Across  the  pike  stood 
the  Gin  house,  some  fifty  yards  from  the  dwelling  house. 
The  Harpeth  river  makes  a  horse-shoe  bend  around  the  town, 
and  there  are  three  pikes  going  into  the  city,  the  Lewisburg, 
Columbia,  and  the  Carter  creek  pike.  On  the  Winstead  hills, 
Hood  halted  and  formed  his  lines  between  the  hills  and  the 
town  out  in  the  open  plain.  Stewart  formed  on  the  right,  his 
right  resting  on  the  Lewisburg  pike.  Cheatham  formed  with 
Cleburne's  and  Brown's  divisions  on  the  left  of  the  Columbia 
pike,  while  Bate  moved  further  to  the  left  and  formed  line  near 
the  Carter  creek  pike.  Often,  upon  the  eve  of  battle,  is  ob- 
served in  the  action  of  brave  men  something  never  before  no- 
ticed. Something  which  seems  to  spring  from  an  innate  feeling 
of  coming  danger;  a  presentiment  of  disaster  or  death. 

While  we  were  yet  on  the  Winstead  hills,  resting  and  await- 
ing orders,  our  Brigadier  Gen.  Strahl  rode  off  to  himself,  dis- 
mounted, spread  his  blanket  on  the  ground  and  reclined  as  if 
worn  out,  having  nothing  to  say  to  any  one,  save  as  his  order- 
lies received  and  brought  reports.  No  one  ever  noticed  this  in 
Gen.  Strahl  before.  He  was  never  reticent,  but  free  to  ap- 
proach and  was  communicative.  We  understood  afterwards 
Gen.  Strahl  remarked  to  two  other  Generals  that  he  would  be 
killed  in  this  engagement.  This  feeling  of  dread,  or  what  ever 
you  may  call  it,  does  not  come  from  any  feeling  of  cowardice, 
for  if  it  ha*d,  Gen.  Strahl  could  have  made  sufficient  excuse, 
plausable  and  honorable;  but.  no,  true  as  steel,  he  was  ready, 
if  to  be  offered  up. 

As  we  moved  from  the  top  of  the  hill  to  form  line  of  battle, 
Gen'  Strahl,  as  he  rode  by  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regi- 
ment, remarked  in  our  hearing,  "boys,  this  will  be  short  but 
desperate."  These  were  the  last  words  we  ever  heard  Gen. 
Strahl  utter;  he  was  killed. 

THE   BATTLE. 

The  command  "forward  march"  was  given.  The  men 
moved  off  with  little  care,  seemingly,  as  to  the  fate  awaiting 
them.  What  a  grand  and  imposing  sight  the  army  presented 
this  beautiful  autumnal  evening,  with  the  golden  haze  of  an  In- 
dian summer,  with  not  a  cloud  to  obscure  the  sun  as  it  shone 
upon  the  field.  As  the  line  advanced,  Cleburne's  division  moved 


142  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

to  the  right  and  across  the  Columbia  pike.  Of  Brown's  divis- 
ion, Gordon's  brigade  changed  from  the  right  to  the  left  flank, 
which  placed  Strahl's  brigade  on  the  pike  joining  Cleburne's, 
and  running  around  back  of  the  Carter  house.  Walthall  and 
Loriug  on  the  right  encountered  a  deep  cut  in  the  railroad  which 
necessitated  a  flank  movement  under  a  heavy  and  destructive 
fire  from  the  enemy's  eighteen  guns  across  the  river,  which 
raked  Stewart's  whole  line.  With  Cleburne  on  the  right  of  the 
Columbia  pike,  Cheatham's  corps  moved  forward  and  soon  the 
whole  line  was  engaged,  and  charged  with  that  characteristic 
yell  of  the  Southern  soldier.  Brown  and  Cleburne  overwhelmed 
Lane's  and  Conrad's  brigades,  captured  several  of  their  men, 
driving  them  from  their  advance  line  over  their  main  works, 
also  driving  Ruger's  and  Reilly's  commands,  and  reached  their 
main  ditches  in  front  of  the  Carter  house  and  Gin  house.  Gen. 
Gordon,  who  was  on  the  left  of  Brown's  division,  penetrated 
the  the  main  line  of  the  enemy  with  a  part  of  one  brigade,  and 
was  captured.  Gist's  brigade,  although  encountering  a  locust 
abatis,  succeeded  in  reaching  the  ditch  in  the  rear  and  around 
the  Carter  house.  Strahl's  brigade  gained  the  ditches  in  front 
of  the  Carter  house  with  the  Old  Nineteenth  resting  immedi- 
ately on  the  pike,  while  Carter's  brigade  reached  the  ditches 
between  Strahl  and  Gist,  also  around  the  Carter  house. 

Granberry,  Govan  and  Polk  carried  the  works  from  the 
pike  around  and  beyond  the  Gin  house,  and  drove  two  Ohio 
regiments  from  their  ditches,  capturing  two  guns  and  turned 
them  upon  the  routed  regiments.  French's  division  charged, 
and  carried  a  part  of  the  enemy's  works  held  by  Reilly,  in 
which  Sear's  brigade  was  almost  annihilated,  torn  and  mutil- 
ated in  the  assault,  in  which  Col.  Witherspoon  of  the  36th  Miss., 
lay  dead  close  by  the  captured  artillery.  Gen.  Cockrell,  with 
two  wounds,  fell  on  the  field,  and  Col.  Gates  assuming  com- 
mand of  his  brigade,  almost  immediately  had  one  arm  terribly 
lacerated,  and  wounded  in  the  other.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  even 
after  this,  this  iron  nerved  Missourian  sat  on  his  horse,  with 
both  arms  hanging  useless,  and  gave  command  in  the  midst  of 
this  storm  of  shot  and  musketry,  while  one  led  his  horse.  In 
the  mean  time,  further  on  to  our  right,  Walthall  and  Loring's 
divisions  approached  the  ditches  and  became  entangled  in  an 
osage  orange  abatis.  Casemant's  Federal  brigade  in  front  of 
Walthall  had  the  improved  repeating  rifles,  and  well  provided 
with  artillery,  besides  the  help  from  the  battery  across  the 


THE   BATTLE.  143 

river.  It  seemed  Walthall  had  to  fight  Death,  Hell  and  the 
Devil  and  each  had  the  advantage  of  him.  Walthall  had  two 
horses  killed  under  him,  and  each  time  mounted  a  horse  be- 
longing to  one  of  his  staff  who  lay  dead  around  him.  The  en- 
emy poured  into  Walthall  and  French  such  a  constant  fire, 
that  their  line,  held  by  Casemant's  men,  seemed  a  fringe  of 
flame.  Here,  in  this  charge  Gen.  Quarles  fell  mortally  wound- 
ed, and  around  him  lay  all  his  staff,  dead.  A  captain,  as  rank- 
ing officer,  took  command  of  the  brigade.  Walthall  reached 
the  enemy's  ditches  but  could  not  hold  them,  on  account  of 
his  thinned  ranks,  and  under  such  a  fire.  Adam's,  Feather- 
ston's  and  Scott's  brigades  of  Loring's  division  assaulted  Stile's 
position,  which  was  well  fortified  and  was  well  defended. 
Here,  General  Scott  was  wounded,  and  General  Adams  was 
killed,  also  his  horse,  both  falling  on  the  breast  works.  Lor- 
ing's division  could  not  hold  their  ditches,  and  in  falling  back, 
Col.  Dyer  of  the  3d  Miss,  and  many  others  were  left  in  the 
ditches  dead.  Coming  back  to  Clebume,  we  found  that  the  en- 
emy were  not  long  in  reoccupying  their  line  made  vacant  by 
the  repulse  of  the  two  Ohio  regiments.  Gen.  Cleburne,  in  a  he- 
roic attempt  to  dislodge  them  again,  and  take  the  works,  fell 
in  front  of  the  sixteenth  Kentucky  regiment,  he  and  his  horse 
falling  upon  the  breast  works  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
gin-house.  The  conflict  raged  with  intense  fury.  The  enemy 
could,  and  no  doubt  did,  every  moment  renew  their  strength, 
while  our  lines  were  being  rapidly  diminished.  So  stubborn 
was  the  resistance  around  the  gin-house,  that  the  two  contend- 
ing forces  fought  with  bayonets  and  clubbed  guns.  On  our  left, 
Strahl,  who  was  on  the  pike  and  joining  Cleburne,  held  the 
ditches,  and  so  did  the  rest  of  Brown's-  division  hold  their 
positions,  while  the  battle  went  on  fierce  and  bloody.  Not  only 
our  brigade,  but  Brown's  division  stuck  to  the  ditches,  and 
fought  with  the  desperation  of  mad  tigers,  and  were  being  shot 
down  like  wild  beasts.  The  works,  going  east  or  towards  the 
river,  after  crossing  the  Pike  turned  down,  forming  a  right  an- 
gle, so  as  to  put  our  regiment  and  brigade  under  an  enfilading 
fire  of  the  enemy,  and  also  that  of  Gist  and  Carter.  The  fol- 
lowing diagram  will  show  the  position  we  were  in. 


144  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

Strahl's  and  Gist's  men  not  only  caught  the  fire  from  the 
front  but  from  across  the  Pike;  and  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tenri, 
regiment  being  right  on  the  pike,  caught  most  of  the  deadly 
bullets.  Of  Brown's  division,  Gist  and  Carter  were  already 
killed,  and  Gordon  captured.  This  Carter  house  was  the  home 
of  the  Gen.  Carter  that  was  killed,  and  who  died  in  his  own 
yard.  His  wife  and  children  were  in  the  basement  of  the  house 
during  the  battle.  The  works  here  in  front  of  us  were  so  high 
the  men  could  not  scale  them  without  help.  Gen.  Strahl 
helped  one  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  upon  top  of  the  works,  when 
he  was  shot,  and  fell  over  on  the  side  of  the  enemy.  Then 
another,  when  he  too  was  shot,  but  the  General  held  on  to  him 
and  pulled  him  back.  Tom  Alexander  of  Co.  H,  son  of  Dr. 
Alexander  of  Athens,  Tennessee,  said,  "General  help  me  up." 
"No,"  replied  Gen.  Strahl,  "I  have  helped  my  last  man  up  on 
the  works  to  be  shot  in  my  hands."  Soon  after  this  Gen. 
Strahl  was  killed,  and  followed  quickly  by  all  his  staff,  who  fell 
one  upon  the  other. 

Bate's  division,  on  our  left,  had  been  putting  in  good  work. 
He  assaulted  the  enemy's  works,  was  met  with  a  heavy  fire, 
both  of  artillery  and  musketry.  He  lost  heavily  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Generals  Smith  and  Jackson  were  captured.  Cle- 
burne's  division,  of  Cheatham's  corps,  and  French's  division,  of 
Stewart's  corps,  notwithstanding  the  desperate  assault  they  had 
made,  and  the  terrible  loss  of  life  they  had  sustained,  did  not 
lose  their  morale,  but  again  renewed  the  attack  and  made  a 
desperate  effort  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  who  had  been  rein- 
forced, and  were  playing  havoc  with  our  men.  In  this  charge 
Gen.  Cranberry  was  killed,  and  his  brigade  was  driven  back 
with  considerable  loss,  and  Sears  and  Cockrell's  brigades  were 
almost  destroyed.  Walthall  again  renewed  the  attack,  and 
was  repulsed,  leaving  many  of  his  men  dead  and  wounded  in  the 
ditches.  Loring  again  assaulted  the  works  in  front  of  him,  in 
which  Scott  and  Adams  received  a  destructive  fire  from  the  bat- 
teries across  the  river,  and  a  fearful  one  from  his  front. 

Our  whole  right  was  again  driven  back,  and  this  time  did  not 
renew  the  attack.  On  our  left  Brown  and  Bate  held  the  works 
they  had  taken  at  first,  and  could  not  be  driven  out  of  them, 
although  they  were  under  a  most  galling  and  terrific  fire  all  the 
time. 

Soon  after  Generals  Gist,  Carter,  and  Strahl  were  killed, 


THE   BATTLE.  145 

Gen.  Brown  fell  severely  wounded.  A  little  after  dark,  John- 
son's division  of  Lee's  corps,  who  had  just  arrived,  and  for  the 
first  time,  charged  the  enemy's  works  to  the  left  of  Brown. 
This  division  moved  forward  in  the  dark,  and  stumbling  over 
men  who  lay  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field  over  which  they 
passed,  stormed  the  works,  and  the  battle  was  renewed  again, 
swelling  the  death  roll  of  a  sanguine  fight.  This  division  went 
into  the  fight  bull-dog  fashion,  to  drive  the  enemy  or  die  in  the 
attempt. 

In  this  assault  Generals  Johnson  and  Managault  fell,  se- 
verely wounded,  while  Sharp's,  Brantley's  and  Dea's  brigades 
suffered  severely,  and  Johnson's  division  was  driven  from  the 
ditches.  This  was  the  last  assault,  but  now  and  then  an  occa- 
sional volley  was  heard,  until  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  the 
enemy  abandoned  Franklin. 

The  Old  Nineteenth  certainly  went  through  the  furnace  to-day, 
and,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  heated  seven  times 
hotter  than  ever  before.  She  withstood  not  only  almost  galling 
fire  from  her  front,  but  a  destructive  enfilading  one  from  her 
right,  and  but  a  few  yards  away. 

Can  too  much  be  said  of  this  grand  and  noble  old  regi- 
ment! True  as  steel  and  as  sensitive  to  duty  as  the  needle 
is  to  the  North  pole,  she  could  be,  and  always  was,  relied 
upon  when  special  and  hazardous  work  was  to  be  done.  Dur- 
ing the  battle,  Lieut.  Frank  H.  Hale,  of  Company.  H,  suc- 
ceeded in  scaling  the  works  and  crawled  about  twenty  feet 
inside  the  Federal  lines  to  the  frame  house  mentioned  hereto- 
fore, that  stood  in  the  yard  of  the  Carter  house,  where  he  was 
killed,  filled  with  bullets  from  the  guns  of  his  own  regiment. 
Serg't  Lum  Waller,  of  Co.  H,  scaled  the  works  and  took  shel- 
ter behind  the  brick  smoke  house,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  dwell- 
ing, where  he  was  wounded,  and  also  Lieut.  W.  W.  Etter,  of 
Co.  K,  succeeded  in  getting  upon  the  works  and  jumped  down 
among  the  Federals.  They  tookioff  their  hats  to  him,  but  did  not 
take  him  prisoner,  when  he,  too,  reached  the  brick  smoke  house, 
and  remained  unhurt  until  the  Federals  retreated,  and  he  re- 
joined the  regiment.  One  other  incident  I  will  mention.  Zack 
Smith,  of  Co.  A,  crawled  to  the  top  of  the  works  from  which 
he  repeatedly  fired,  when  Gen.  Strahl  said  to  him,  "Zack,  my 
brave  fellow,  I  will  not  forget  you  for  this."  But  our  loved 
General  died  soon  after  in  the  works.  Arthur  Fulkerson,  the 


146  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

Sergeant-Major  of  the  regiment,  fell  in  the  charge  just  before 
reaching  the  works,  pierced  by  sixteen  bullets.  I  might  go  on 
with  others  equally  as  noteworthy,  but  will  desist.  This  frame 
house  that  stood  in  the  yard,  next  morning  presented  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  sieve,  so  full  of  bullet  holes. 

In  this  fearful  struggle  French  lost  about  sixty  per  cent,  of 
his  men,  almost  annihilating  his  division.  Waltball,  in  his  as- 
saults, was  not  only  repulsed,  but  almost  destroyed.  Loring 
was  next  repulsed,  with  great  loss.  Then  came  Cleburne,  who 
in  his  last  and  desperate  charge  at  the  gin  house,  lost  heavily 
in  killed  and  wounded,  was  driven  back  and  he  and  his  horse 
were  killed,  both  falling  on  the  works. 

Brown's  division,  in  which  the  Old  Nineteenth  filled  a  con- 
spicuous place, after  repeated  heroic  charges, captured  the  ditches 
in  front  of  him  and  held  them,  notwithstanding  the  assault  was 
made  under  a  heavy  fire,  the  enemy  making  repeated  efforts  to 
dislodge  him,  but  he  held  the  ditches  to  the  end.  Gen.  Brown 
was  severely  wounded  and  all  his  Generals  killed,  save  one, 
and  he  was  captured.  Johnson  made  the  last  assault  but  was 
repulsed  with  slaughter  of  his  men. 

Reader,  it  makes  us  sick,  now,  as  we  think  of  that  bloody 
scene,  that  beautiful  November  evening,  and  it  almost  drives 
the  frozen  current  of  life  back  upon  the  chilled  heart.  We 
stand -aghast  as  we  now  think  of  the  battle  field  of  Franklin. 
The  angel  of  death  certainly  held  high  carnival  that  sorrowful 
night  in  the  army  of  Tennessee.  Oh !  this  one  scene  of  butchery 
will  go  down  the  ages  in  history  as  a  black  page  in  the  mem- 
ory of  our  lost  cause.  The  firing  ceased  about  ten 
o'clock  that  night  and  the  army  bivouaced  on  the  field.  As 
soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  left  Franklin, 
the  infirmary  and  relief  corps  were  on  every  part  of  the  field 
with  torches,  hunting  up,  and  rendering  assistance  to  the 
thousands  of  wounded  and  suffering,  whose  agonizing  appeals 
that  cold  bitter  night,  were  enough  to  melt  with  sympathy  the 
hardest  heart.  Gen.  Cheatham,  as  he  walked  over  the  field  of 
carnage  that  night,  and  looked  by  the  glare  of  the  torchlight 
into  the  hundreds  of  pale  faces,  silent  in  death,  in  many  places 
the  dead  lying  in  heaps,  and  upon  the  thousands  of  wounded 
covered  with  blood,  appealing  for  water  and  help,  he  wept,  the 
great  big  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks  and  he  sobbed  like  a  child. 
Before  him  lay  not  only  his  boys,  as  he  called  them,  but  his 


THE   BATTLE.  147 

Generals,  all  dead.  That  noble,  kind,  big  hearted,  brave  Gen- 
eral, who  was  loved  by  all,  wept.  Yes,  and  each  tear,  it  can  be 
truthfully  said,  bound  his  men  to  him  and  he  to  them  nearer 
than  ever  before. 

A  veteran  army  was  wrecked  on  this  field  of  battle,  a 
bloody  holocaust  to  the  Moloch  of  war.  The  dead  and  wound- 
ed were  numbered  by  the  thousands;  the  regimental  and  bri- 
gade organizations  were  broken  up,  guns  and  equipage  broken 
and  scattered,  colors  were  lying  here  and  there  stained  with 
the  life  blood  of  those  who  bore  them.  All  these  showed  plain- 
ly the  magnitude  of  the  disaster.  The  dead  and  wounded 
marked  the  field  over  which  the  divisions  charged.  In  front  of 
the  intrenched  lines  were  strewn  the  bodies  of  slaughtered  he- 
roes, officers  and  men  proving  clearly  the  intense  fury  of  the 
assaults. 

In  the  intrenchments,  captured  and  held  by  Strahl's  and 
Carter's  brigades  of  Brown's  division,  the  dead  lay  in  heaps, 
and  in  some  places  in  the  ditches  were  piled  seven  deep.  On 
the  dead  body  of  Gen.  Strahl  fell  that  of  Capt.  Johnson  and 
Lieut.  Marsh,  and  others  fell  on  them.  Regimental  and  com- 
pany officers  were  seen  supported  in  an  almost  upright  position 
by  the  dead  who  had  fallen  first. 

HOME  AND  MOTHER. 

When  we  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  Florence  on  our 
way  into  Tennessee,  Gen.  Hood  promised  the  boys  who  lived 
on  and  near  the  road  we  traveled,  one  or  two  days,  furlough  to 
see  home  and  friends  from  whom  they  had  been  absent  two 
and  three  years.  After  finding  the  large  force  of  the  enemy  at 
Columbia,  expecting  resistance  at  nearly  every  point,  he  re- 
quested the  boys  to  remain  contented  with  their  command  un- 
til after  a  certain  time,  and  after  we  had  passed  Franklin  he 
would  grant  their  leave  of  absence.  As  we  passed  on,  many  of 
the  boys  could  see  the  blue  smoke  away  in  the  distance,  curling 
up  from  the  old  hearth  stone,  around  which  clustered  the  sweet- 
est associations  of  their  childhood  days,  and  where  mother,  sis- 
ters, wives  and  children  looked  for  a  happy  meeting  of  loved 
ones  again.  No  doubt,  as  the  brave  boys,  faithful  to  their 
trust,  passed  the  home  they  loved  so  well,  they  felt,  and  deep 
in  the  recesses  of  their  hearts,  they  said,  "Mother  we  will  be 
with  you,  wait.  We  are  coming  home  to-morrow." 

Little  did  they  then  think,  that,  to  them,  to-morrow  would 


148  THE   OLD    NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

never  come.  But  the  dear  old  mothers  and  sisters  anxiously 
waited  and  looked  long  with  weeping  eyes  and  sorrowful  hearts 
for  their  dear  soldier  boys  who  never  came. 

"Yes,  mother,  widows,  sisters  left  alone, 

Are  watching  for  their  loved  ones  glad  return ; 

While  they  lie  sleeping  'neath  a  lowly  stone, 

Unconscious  of  the  hearts  thai  for  them  yearn." 

In  the  fifteenth  Mississippi  regiment  were  six  brothers,  who 
were  all  killed  in  this  battle ;  and  perhaps  neither  one  knew  of  the 
others  death,  until  they  met  the  next  morning  in  eternity.  Of 
the  slain  in  battle  all  were  buried  long  years  ago,  but  will  not 
be  forgotten  for  years  to  come. 

Comrades,  sleep!  We  meet  no  more  until  our  tents  are 
spread  on  fame's  eternal  camping  ground.  Beyond  the  sunset, 
beyond  the  clouds,  beyond  the  stars  that  shine  as  suns  for  other 
worlds,  in  the  home  of  the  soul,  we  hope  to  meet  again. 

"Then,  how  sweet  it  will  be,  in  that  beautiful  land, 

So  free  from  all  sorrow  and  pain, 
With  songs  on  our  lips  and  with  harps  in  our  hands, 

To  meet  one  another  again." 

In  looking  over  this  sad  scene,  the  question  irresistably 
forces  itself  upon  us,  who  was  to  blame  for  all  this!  Was  it 
one  of  the  inexplicable  decrees  of  Fate!  These  questions  may 
never  be  satisfactorily  answered. 

If  Hood  had  flanked  Schofield  at  Franklin  and  had  gone  onto 
Nashville,  he  would  not  only  have  put  himself  between  two  ar- 
mies, either  of  which  was  his  equal,  and  thereby  hazard  his 
entire  army,  but  he  would  have  cut  off  allipossible  hope  ofjescape. 

Franklin,  from  a  military  standpoint,  was  of  no  significant 
value  aside  from  the  fact  that  the  road  leading  to  Nashville  led 
through  it.  As  Hood's  objective  point  was  Nashville,  and  as  he 
could  not  go  around  Schofield,  nothing  was  left  him  but  to 
RETREAT  or  storm  the  place.  Hood  was  given  the  army  with  the 
express  injunction  to  FIGHT.  Here,  he  saw  his  fearful  respon- 
sibility reach  its  noon-tide.  But  the  brave  old  General,  with 
but  one  leg  and  one  arm,  like  the  Spartan  of  old,  stood  firm  in 
the  discharge  of  what  he  thought  to  be  his  duty.  Had  he  re- 
treated, his  star  of  glory  would  have  gone  down  behind  a  cloud 
to  rise  no  more. 

Jefferson  Davis  told  the  truth  when  he  said,  "If  Hood,  by  an 
impetuous  attack,  had  crushed  Schoheld,  with  but  little  loss  to 


AFTER-THOUGHTS.  149 

himself ,  and  if  Forrest  could  have  carried  out  his  intention  in 
capturing  Schofield's  trains,  we  should  never  have  heard  aught 
against  Hood's  attack  on  Franklin." 

Must  we  say  this  is  all  the  fate  of  war?  Or  is  it  the  display 
of  that  unseen  power,  the  vis  a  tergo,  that  showed  its  potency 
in  the  death  of  Albert  Sidney  Johnson  at  Shiloh,  and  in  the  re- 
moval of  Joseph  E.  Johnson  before  reaching  Atlanta.  There 
was  no  earthly  reason  why  either  of  these  should  have  been 
taken  away.  We  do  not  always  see  clearly  the  hand- writing  on 
the  wall,  and  attribute  too  many  things  to  carelessness  and  ac- 
cident. The  why,  we  will  see  after  awhile. 

A  young  lady,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee,  speaking  poetically 
of  the  battle  of  Franklin,  says: 

"Behind  the  works  looms  up  the  lines  of  Blue, 

Before,  the  timbers  fallen  by  cautious  hands 
To  break  the  ranks  of  Gray.     'Twixt  these  a  floor 

To  thrash  with  leaden  flail  the  Southern  bands, 

Charge  wild  with  ringing  rebel  yell 
That  flings  its  piercing  echoes  on  the  breeze, 

The  men,  like  Gray  stars  on  the  somber  field 
Crash  through  the  crackling  limbs  of  fallen  trees. 

And  on  they  move,  above  the  deafening  roar 

Of  belching  guns,  the  weird  yell  rings  again, 
And  in  the  flash,  it  seems  the  gates  of  hell 

Had  yawned  wide  as  they  gained  the  open  plain. 
When  storms  of  shot  and  bursting  shell, 

And  sweep  of  hurtling  grape,  with  burning  breath 

Pour  on  the  Southern  host,  undaunted,  yet, 
Still  facing  closer  the  horrid  hail  of  death. 

'Tis  midnight  hour,  and  through  the  lifting  clouds, 
The  struggling  moonbeams  gaze  on  Franklin's  field 

Upon  the  war-stained  corpse  of  friends  and  foe 
And  weirdly  kiss  the  lips  forever  sealed/' 

Only  a  few  of  the  names  of  the  killed  and  wounded  could 
be  gotten.  We  lost  nearly  half  of  our  regiment,  about  forty  per 
cent. 

KILLED. 

Arthur  Fulkerson,  Sergeant-Major. 

Bowers,  James Co.  B         Knox,  George Co.  H 

Hutson,  Andy "     "         Hale,  Lieut.  F.  H "  " 

Morgan,  John "     C          Russell,  John "  " 

Knox,  W.  G "     D         Looney,  Marshall "  K 

Bowers,  Billie "     G         Webster,  E "  " 

Potts,  Edgar ,  "  " 


150 


THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 


WOUNDED. 

Coughlin,  Pete Co.  A  Hicks,  Jos.  S Co. 

"    D  Gunning,   Joe " 

"     "  Buran,  Henry " 

'•     "  Brunei-,  S.  H " 

"    E 

.  '4    G 


Hale,  G.  W 

Henry,  S.  R 

Kelley,  W.  A 

Meroney,  J.N 

Roller,  Geo 

Holley,  Wash  B "     " 

Mayfield,  Jack "     " 

Drake,  George " 

Alexander,  Tom '      H 

Wiggins,  James 

Robert  Bates, 
D.  C.  Whaley 


Phipps,  Wm.  F 
Hipsher,  Wm.  L 
Waller,  Lum 
Grisham,  James 
Shipple,  Ben 
McCarty,  W.  N 
Etter,  Lieut.  W.  W,.. 
Co.  G.  Captured. 


G 

4  i 

K 


CHAPTER  XXL 


ON  TO  NASHVILLE. 

\  FTER  the  dead  were  buried  on  the  field  of  Franklin,  and 
_/\  the  wounded  cared  for  in  the  hospitals,  Gen.  Hood  moved 
on  to  Nashville.  Forrest,  with  Chamler's  brigade  of  cav- 
alry, moved  on  the  Hillsboro  pike,  and  Buford,  with  Jackson's 
brigade  of  cavalry,  moved  on  the  Wilson  pike. 

These  engaged  the  enemy  at  Brentwood,  but  the  Federals 
fell  back  when  Lee's  corps  came  up  and  camped  for  the  night, 
Stewart's  corps  followed  next.  Cheatham's  corps  remained  in 
Franklin,  until  December  2nd,  when  he  too  moved  on  to  Nash- 
ville. Hood  formed  his  lines  around  Nashville,  almost  par- 
allel with  those  of  the  enemy,  the  evening  of  the  3rd. 

On  this  line  Cheatham  occupied  the  extreme  right,  covering 
the  line  between  the  N.  &  C.  railroad  and  the  Nolensville  pike. 
Lee's  corps  from  Cheatham's  left,  to  and  beyond  the  Franklin 
pike.  Stewart's  corps  joining  Lee's  left,  continued  on  and 
crossed  the  Granny  White  pike. 

The  evening  of  the  3rd,  Hood  ordered  Bate's  division  of 
Cheatham's  corps  to  Murfreesboro,  leaving  Cheatham  with  on- 
ly two  divisions,  when  he  took  position  on  the  line  around 
Nashville.  (Hood  was  criticised  for  this  move  on  to  Nashville, 
and  many  thought  he  had  not  reasoned  wisely,  and  could  not 
see  what  he  hoped  to  gain.  But  the  part  of  a  good  soldier  is 
not  to  hesitate  and  criticise,  but  obey.) 

After  a  few  days  hovering  around  scanty  fires  and  gazing 
upon  the  capital  from  the  red  hills  east  of  the  city,  Gen. ''Hood 
ordered  Bate's  division  from  Murfreesboro  to  take  its  place  in 
the  line  with  Cheatham.  From  our  position  we  could  plainly 
see  the  capital  and  the  guns  that  stood  sentinel  in  the  eastern 
yard.  The  morning  of  December  the  8th  rolled  around,  bring- 
ing one  of  the  coldest  days  we  had  experienced  in  a  long  time. 
There  were  sleet,  and  snow,  and  ice,  and  rain;  and  the  driving 


152  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

wind  rendered  it  the  more  uncomfortable.  We  were  out  in  the 
open  fields  on  an  elevation,  without  protection  from  the  wintry 
blasts,  and  were  thinly  clad— many  of  us  without  shoes — with 
nothing  whatever  to  keep  our  sore  and  bleeding  feet  from  the 
cold  and  frozen  ground.  (The  writer  was  one  of  these.) 

We  were  without  tents,  and  with  but  one  old  worn  blanket 
to  each  man,  with  which  to  cover  at  night,  and  our  only  bed 
the  frozen  ground,  and  that  covered  with  ice  and  snow.  For 
days  we  stood  watching  the  enemy  in  this  uncomfortable  plight. 

Ambition,  and  even  life  itself,  were  almost  frozen  out  of 
us.  In  the  midst  of  all  this,  we  gazed  defiantly  at  the  enemy 
in  his  comfortable  quarters,  and  at  the  frowning  cannon  on  forts 
Negley,  Casino,  and  Morton,  which  were  waiting  like  blood- 
hounds held  in  leash,  eager  to  be  turned  loose  upon  us.  The 
cold  weather  had  somewhat  subsided,  when  the  morning  of 
Dec.  15th,  dawned,  bringing  with  it  a  dense  fog  that  rested  on 
the  hill  tops  and  covered  all  the  plains. 

Thomas,  in  the  early  morning,  under  cover  of  this  fog, 
moved  his  men  and  formed  his  lines  before  Hood  knew  he  was 
so  closely  threatened.  By  nine  o'clock  the  sun  had  melted 
away  the  almost  frozen  fog,  and  the  enemy,  under  Gen.  Stead- 
man,  with  a  division  of  negro  troops,  was  seen  moving  on 
Cheatham,  who  occupied  the  right  of  our  line  not  far  from  the 
Rains  house.  In  the  meantime  Thomas  had  concentrated  his 
force  on  our  left  and  was  waiting  for  the  fog  to  blow  away. 
Steadman  with  his  dark  brigade,  in  front  of  Cheatham,  came 
up  boldly  in  the  charge,  but  at  the  first  well  directed  fire  of  our 
men,  seeing  so  many  of  their  men  fall,  they  turned  and  made  a 
hasty  retreat,  but  were  met  by  a  second  line  of  their  own  men, 
who,  with  fixed  bayonets,  forced  them  to  renew  the  attack, 
with  but  a  repitition  of  their  former  effort.  Steadman  charged 
time  and  again,  but  was  repulsed  each  time,  and  with  loss. 
On  Hood's  left,  and  beyond  Ector's  brigade,  was  Chalmer's  di- 
vision of  cavalry,  with  Buckner's  brigade  of  cavalry  near  the 
river.  Walthall  had  been  withdrawn  from  Stewart's  left  and 
put  into  position  in  the  rear  of  French's  division,  to  prepare 
works  on  some  knolls  for  cannon  and  to  furnish  one  hundred 
men  for  each  battery. 

Soon  after  Steadman 's  advance  on  Cheatham,  Smith  and 
Wood  of  the  enemy,  with  Wilson's  cavalry  closely  followed  by 


ON  TO  NASHVILLP:.  153 

Schofield,  advanced  on  Stewart.  Coleman,  who  was  command- 
ing Ector's  brigade,  as  he  fought,  kept  falling  back  slowly,  us- 
ing every  exertion  to  keep  the  enemy  from  turning  his  brigade 
until  he  had  reached  the  extreme  left  of  Walthall.  As  he  fell 
back,  the  sixteenth  army  corps  rushed  upon  Chalmer  and  swept 
him  away  like  chaff  before  the  wind,  capturing  his  headquarter 
wagons,  baggage  train,  papers  and  records.  The  enemy  also 
captured  a  battery  of  four  guns,  on  a  knoll,  with  its  support  of 
one  hundred  men.  The  enemy  still  pressing  forward,  Stewart 
not  being  able  to  check  them,  they  captured  another  battery 
with  all  its  support  from  Stewart,  and  forced  Walthall  around 
until  his  line  was  at  right  angle  with  the  one  he  had  occupied 
in  the  morning.  Walthall  was  now  behind  a  stone  fence  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Hillsboro  pike.  Hood  ordered  Johnson's 
division  of  Lee's  corps  to  reinforce  Stewart  at  this  point,  but 
before  Johnson  arrived  the  enemy  had  driven  this  part  of 
Stewart's  left  from  its  position,  and  through  the  skirt  of  woods 
between  the  Hillsboro  and  the  Granny  White's  pikes.  On  the 
arrival  of  Johnson  the  enemy  were  driven  back  and  Stewart 
reoccupied  the  woods,  but  only  for  a  short  time.  The  enemy 
reinforced  and  drove  our  men  back,  and  not  only  through  the 
the  woods  but  beyond  and  east  of  the  Granny  White  pike,  thus 
turning  Stewart's  whole  left  flank,  and  gaining  the  rear  of 
Walthall  and  Loring.  In  this  last  charge  through  the  woods 
General  Sears  lost  his  right  leg  by  a  shot  from  one  of  Kimble's 
guns,  and  was  captured.  The  Old  Nineteenth  under  Cheatham 
during  all  tbis  time,  had  not  been  idle.  She  received  the  first 
impress  and  shock  of  the  battle  of  Nashville,  and  was  under 
its  fire  continuously  all  day.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  crossed 
the  Granny  White  pike,  Cheatham  formed  in  rear  of  Stewart 
and  met  his  advance  and  checked  him.  This  put  an  end  to  the 
days  fighting,  night  coming  on,  the  two  armies  settled  down  for 
the  night.  During  the  day  Hood  was  driven  back  about  two, 
or  two  and  half,  miles.  The  weather  was  very  cold  and  the 
ground  frozen.  The  sharp  points  of  frozen  mud  rendered  it 
difficult,  and  even  painful,  for  Hood's  brave  bare-footed  men 
to  maneuver.  Why  Thomas  did  not  capture  Hood's  whole 
army  seemed  strange  to  us.  While  Hood  had  lost  but  few  of 
his  men,  he  had  lost  nearly  all  of  his  artillery.  During  the  night 
of  the  fifteenth,  Hood  formed  his  lines  with  his  right  resting 
on  the  Overtoil  hills  east  of  the  Franklin  pike,  with  Lee  occu- 
pying the  Overton  hills  on  our  right,  Stewart  in  the  center,  and 


154  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

Cheatham  on  the  extreme  left.  Cheatkarn's  line  ran  up  to  the 
summit  of  a  high  knoll  known  as  Shy's  hill,  and  turned  South 
at  right  angle  on  the  top. 

Strahl's  brigade  rested  on  the  top  of  this  knoll,  the  Old 
Nineteenth  formed  the  apex  of  the  angle,  and  turned  down  the 
southern  slope  of  the  hill .  Here  Cheatham  confronted  Schofield'  s 
and  part  of  Wilson's  corps.  Our  men  threw  up  breast- works  as 
best  they  could,  having  no  tools  with  which  to  work,  and  the 
ground  being  frozen.  Steadman,  with  his  negro  brigades,  with 
Post's  and  Streight's  divisions,  were  in  front  of  Lee  this  morn- 
ing. Steadman  confronted  Clayton.  During  all  the  early  morn- 
iug  Thomas  kept  shelling  Hood's  lines  to  see  how  they  ran. 

Major  Truehart  had  two  guns  he  had  succeeded  in  bringing 
off  the  field  the  day  before,  and  had  planted  them  on  a  hill  in 
the  rear  of  Bate's  division.  Thomas  had  part  of  Smith's  corps 
in  front  of  Cheatham,  with  Schofield 's  command  extended  be- 
yond Cheatham's  left,  and  Wilson's  cavalry  still  farther  around 
on  our  left  flank.  About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Thomas 
began  moving  against  Hood  on  our  right,  with  heavy  artillery 
fire,  while  the  greater  portion  of  his  army  were  moving  against 
and  around  our  left.  Steadman's  negro  brigade  came  against 
Clayton,  like  a  black  cloud  rolling  up  the  horizon,  charging  as 
if  they  would  tear  away  everything  before  them .  They  came  up 
to  within  a  short  distance  of  our  lines,  but  were  forced  to  re- 
turn, leaving  a  hundred  or  two  dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground. 
In  the  charge  made  by  Pettus  and  Streight,  they  were  repulsed 
with  a  loss  of  two  or  three  hundred,  and  in  which  Gen.  Post,  of 
the  Federal  army,  was  wounded. 

At  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  Strahl's  brigade  rested,  was 
a  corn  field  about  one  hundred  yards  wide.  The  sun  had  by  this 
time  thawed  the  ground  just  enough  to  become  slippery  and 
sticky.  The  fight  had  by  this  time  become  general  all  along  the 
whole  line,  and  by  noon  Thomas  had  gained  the  hills  command- 
ing the  Granny  White  pike,  and  drove  Cheatham  from  his  posi- 
tion. As  Strahl's  brigade  descended  this  hill  and  entered  the 
corn  field,  we  were  between  two  fires  of  the  enemy's  artillery, 
the  shells  met  and  passed  each  other  in  this  field.  When  our 
lines  gave  way,  our  brigade  being  in  this  salient  point,  the  Fed- 
erals reached  the  corn  field  as  we  did.  There  we  were,  the 
bare-footed,  half-frozen  Confederates, and  the  well-shod,  stall-fed 
Federals,  knocking  down  the  corn  stalks — one  trying  to  get 


ON   TO   NASHVILLE.  155 

away,  the  other,  to  catch,  but  we  were  not  kicking  up  a  dust. 
Several  of  our  boys  were  captured  here.  Our  color-bearer, 
John  Mason,  came  near  losing  our  colors,  a  Federal  soldier 
grabbed  at  the  colors  several  times  but  missed,  when  Mason 
tore  them  from  the  staff  and  stuffed  them  in  his  bosom  and  ran 
out  safely.  The  Old  Nineteenth  never  lost  her  colors  in  battle, 
tattered  and  torn  by  bullets  in  many  a  fray,  it  had  survived 
them  all  and  was  still  in  the  hands  of  the  old  regiment  to  lead 
wherever  it  should  go. 

As  we  ran  through  the  field,  or  tried  to  run,  James  Havely 
just  barely  escaped  capture  by  jumping  through  a  hole  in  a 
rock  wall  made  by  a  shell,  he  was  almost  given  out,  his  feet 
were  sore  and  heavy  from  the  mud  clinging  to  them.  Did  you 
ever  have  in  your  sleep  a  "night  mare?"  when  something  was 
after  you  and  you  could  not  run  fast  enough!  well  ours  was  a 
veritable,  wide  awake  nightmare.  Hood's  whole  left  wing  was 
driven  back.  Brown's  and  Bate's  divisions  passed  through  the 
Brent  woods  hills  by  an  old  dirt  road,  and  came  into  the  Frank- 
lin pike  just  before  reaching  Otter  Creek.  Lee  fell  back  when 
the  left  wing  gave  away,  and  Hood  formed  line  again,  and  we 
bivouaced  in  two  miles  of  where  our  line  was  in  the  morning. 
Although  the  left  wing  fell  back  through  the  Brent  wood  hills 
in  some  confusion,  yet  we  lay  in  line  of  battle  within  half  mile 
of  the  enemy  all  night.  Thomas  could,  and  ought  to  have 
captured  us  that  night;  he  had  enough  of  men  to  have  sur- 
rounded us  and  either  way  we  might  go,  meet  as  many  men  as 
Hood  had. 

Only  five  or  six  casualties  have  we  been  able  to  get,  B.  J. 
Johnson,  of  Company  C,  wounded.  Capt.  Winn  Smith, 
Co.  C.,  and  Dan  Sullivan,  of  Co.  C.,  captured.  Pink  Hender- 
son, and  W.  O.  Merony,  of  Co.  E,  wounded  and  captured. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  RETREAT. 

AGAIN  we  start  out  on  another  sad  retreat.  Sad,  because 
the  Fates  have  marked  it  out,  in  some  respects,  similar  to 
that  of  the  memorable  retreat  from  Fishing  Creek,  Ky. 
Sad,  again,  because  we  will  leave  .behind  so  many  of  our  com- 
rades, who  tramped  the  rough  cold  journey  into  Tennessee 
with  us.  And  sad,  too,  because  of  our  defeat.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  17th  we  started  out  to  recross  the  Tennessee  river. 
Gen.  Holtzclaw's  brigade  brought  up  and  protected  our  rear, 
until  we  passed  Franklin  and  reached  Spring  Hill.  Gen.  Lee 
was  wounded  about  noon  of  the  17th,  in  a  charge  on  our  rear 
guard,  and  the  next  morning  Gen.  Buckner  was  wounded  and 
captured.  At  Spring  Hill  Brown's  division  of  Cheatham's 
corps  relieved  Holtzclaw,  and  protected  the  rear  of  the  army, 
which  was  continually  being  pressed  and  harrassed  by  Wilson's 
cavalry.  The  roads  were  very  muddy  and  all  the  streams  were 
swollen  from  the  recent  rains  and  melted  snow.  Rutherford's 
creek,  when  we  reached  it,  was  rising  rapidly,  and  when  Wil- 
son's cavalry  arrived,  the  creek  was  so  high  the  cavalry  could 
not  cross,  and  was  delayed  several  hours.  On  reaching  Colum- 
bia, Gen.  Hood  placed  Stewart's  division  in  the  fort  thrown  up 
by  Gen.  Vandorn,  to  protect  the  army  while  crossing  Duck 
river.  Here  Gen.  Forrest  came  up  with  us,  the  first  time  since 
he  left  for  Murfreesboro.  Stewart  was  the  last  to  cross.  So 
hard  pressed  were  we  by  the  enemy,  that  a  few  of  Stewart's 
videttes  were  captured  before  they  could  reach  the  crossing. 

When  the  head  of  Cheatham's  command  reached  the  pon- 
toons across  Duck  river,  it  met  that  of  Forrest's  cavalry.  The 
time  for  Forrest  to  cross  had  arrived,  and  Cheatham  should 
have  crossed  first,  but  was  so  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy, 
that  he  failed  to  cross  at  the  appointed  hour.  Forrest  insisted 
on  his  right  to  cross ;  Cheatham,  on  his.  Hot  words  ensued; 


THE   RETREAT.  157 

and  all  along  the  line  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  the  cracking  of 
guns  was  heard,  and  the  whispered  threat:  "if  he  touch  old 
Mars  Frank  we  will  shoot  him  and  his  command  into  eternity." 
But  this  state  of  things  was  only  for  a  moment,  General  Cheat- 
ham  crossed,  and  that  was  the  last  of  it. 

Thomas  was  certainly  pressing  our  rear  for  all  it  was  worth 
with  the  4th  and  the  16th  army  corps  and  Wilson's  cavalry. 
The  safety  of  Hood's  army  lay  almost  wholly  in  a  substantial 
rear  guard,  and  to  this  end,  on  the  20th  of  December,  before 
leaving  Columbia,  Gen.  Hood  called  on  Gen.  Walthall  to 
take  charge  of  a  rear  guard  of  infantry,  and  to  give  Gen.  For- 
rest such  support  as  would  enable  him  to  keep  back  the  force 
of  the  enemy  that  was  following  so  close  upon  his  heels. 

THE   REAR   GUARD. 

Gen.  Hood  told  Gen.  Walthall,  that  this  rear  guard  was  a 
place  of  honor,  and  very  great  responsibility  and  peril,  and 
that  he  would  not  impose  it  upon  him  without  his  consent,  and 
told  him  to  pick  out  of  the  army  such  regiments  as  he  thought 
he  could  rely  upon.  Hood  said  the  army  must  be  saved  if  that 
detachment  was  sacrificed  to  accomplish  it. 

Gen.  Walthall  replied:  that  he  had  never  asked  for  a  hard 
place  for  glory,  nor  for  an  easy  one  for  comfort,  but  would  take 
his  chances  for  weal  or  woe.  Gen.  Walthall  selected  the  brig- 
ades of  Featherston,  Palmer,  Strahl,  Quarles,  Ector,  Reynold's 
Maney  and  Smith  for  this  special  duty. 

He  felt  that  he  could  rely  upon  these  if  put  to  the  severest 
test  of  manhood  and  bravery.  And  for  thorough  and  effective 
movement  he  reorganized  them  into  the  following  brigades: 

Under  Featherston— Featherston's  brigade,  Quarles'  brig- 
ade. 

Under  Reynolds — Reynolds'  brigade,  Ector 's  brigade. 

Under  Field— Maiiey's  brigade,  Strahl's  brigade. 

Under  Palmer — Palmer's  brigade,  Smith's  brigade. 

There  were  eight  brigades  with  an  effective  force  of  only 
sixteen  hundred  (1600.)  men,  the  remnant  of  the  thirty  thous- 
and (30,000.)  who  started  out  at  the  beginning  of  the  war. 
Thousands  of  these  sleep  to-day  on  the  many  battle  fields, 
others  were  in  prison,  some  in  hospitals  and  at  home  wounded 
and  sick.  Col.  C.  W.  Heiskell,  who  had  been  absent  for  some 
time  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  came  to  us  at  Columbia  and  took  command  of  Strahl's 


158  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

brigade.  The  Old  Nineteenth  Tenn.,  was  one  of  the  especially 
chosen  regiments,  which  shows  she  stood  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  chief  officer  of  the  army.  The  Old  Nineteenth  Tenn., 
had  the  audacity  of  saying  just  what  they  pleased  to  any  and 
all,  because  they  could,  and  did  so  to  Gen.  Cheatham  (Mars 
Frank  as  they  called  him.)  The  morning  of  December  the 
20th  we  were  standing  in  line  ready  to  move,  when  Gen.  Hood 
rode  up  to  the  head  of  Strahl's  brigade  and  asked  who  was  in 
command.  Col.  Heiskell  replied,  "Col.  Heiskell."  Gen.  Hood 
said,  "I  want  you  to  stay  behind  to  help  Gen.  Forrest  guard 
my  rear  till  we  cross  the  Tennessee."  After  passing  Col.  Heis- 
kell, Gen.  Hood,  speaking  to  the  men,  said:  "boys  the  cards 
were  fairly  dealt  at  Nashville  and  Thomas  beat  the  game." 
James  Stevenson  of  Co.  E,  standing  right  under  Gen.  Hood 
looking  him  in  the  face,  replied :  "yes  General  but  the  cards 

were  d d  badly  shuffled."    We  remained  with   Forrest  the 

rest  of  the  retreat. 

To  say  we  suffered  on  this  campaign  does  not  express  it. 
We  had  poor  protection  from  the  cold,  and  our  brave  boys 
were  almost  worn  out.  Their  frost  bitten  feet  were  swollen, 
bruised,  and  bleeding  as  they  marched  over  the  frozen  ground, 
many  of  them  bare-footed;  certainly  a  sad  condition  for  an 
army  on  the  retreat,  pressed  hard  by  a  relentless  foe.  We  were 
just  in  that  condition  that  a  speedy  retreat  was  impossible. 
We  were  always  ready  and  willing  to  fight  when  run  upon,  or 
when  the  chip  was  knocked  off  of  our  shoulder.  As  soon  as 
Gen.  Hood  moved  out  from  Columbia,  the  Federal  Gen.  Hatch 
began  shelling  the  city,  endangering  the  women,  children,  and 
defenseless  wounded. 

Gen.  Forrest  under  flag  of  truce  asked  Gen.  Hatch  to  de- 
sist, as  he  was  causing  suffering  upon  the  innocent  end  help- 
less. The  shelling  stopped.  The  enemy  on  the  night  of  the 
twentieth  crossed  Duck  river  on  a  pontoon  some  three  miles 
above  Columbia,  but  Hood  moved  out  with  perfect  confidence 
in  his  rear  guard.  Gen.  Forrest  ordered  Gen.  Walthall  to  fall 
back  in  the  direction  of  Pulaski,  and  as  soon  as  the  enemy  had 
crossed  the  river  with  all  his  forces,  on  the  night  of  the  22nd. 
Walthall  ordered  Col.  Fields  with  Maney's  and  Strahl's  bri- 
gades to  skirmish  with  him,  while  the  other  brigades  formed 
a  line  across  the  Pulaski  pike.  The  enemy  was  too  strong  for 
Fields  and  he  fell  back  on  the  line  with  Walthall.  When 


LIEUTENANT  R.  P.  JAMES. 

Lieutenant  James  was  living  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  pursuing  his  trade  as 
tinner,  when  the  war  began.  He  joined  Company  A  of  the  Nineteenth  Ten- 
nessee Confederate  regiment  in  June,  1861.  He  fought  with  conspicuous  gal- 
lantry through  the  war,  receiving  a  severe  wound  in  the  battle  of  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  from  which  he  still  suffers.  He  made  a  brave  and  good  soldier. 


THE    RETREAT.  159 

Wood's  corps  with  Wilson's  cavalry  carne  up,  Walthall  fell 
back  some  twelve  miles  on  the  pike,  and  camped  near  Mrs. 
Mitchell's  in  two  miles  of  Linnville  where  we  remained  until 
the  24th.  From  this  camp  Walthall  advanced  on  the  enemy 
towards  Columbia,  while  Forrest  watched  both  flanks.  Com- 
ing upon  the  enemy  about  three  miles  back,  quite  an  engage- 
ment took  place.  Here,  we  held  the  enemy  for  four  hours  with 
heavy  skirmishing.  From  this  point  Walthall  fell  back  to 
Richland  Creek,  within  six  miles  of  Pulaski,  where  he  took 
position  around  the  mill.  Here,  a  considerable  artillery  duel 
was  kept  up  for  some  time,  in  which  we  dismounted  two  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  The  infantry  firing  was  quite  heavy,  reaching 
beyond  that  of  a  heavy  skirmish.  The  enemy  crossed  the 
creek  some  distance  above  us,  and  aimed  to  gain  our  rear,  but 
was  met  by  Buford,  and  part  of  Chalmer's  brigade  of  cavalry, 
and  their  flank  movements  were  checked,  but  not  without  con- 
siderable fighting,  in  which  engagement  Gen.  Buford  was 
wounded.  Gen.  Forrest  at  this  time  was  with  Walthall  on  the 
creek,  when  a  courier  came  dashing  up  to  Gen.  Forrest  and 
said,  "General,  the  enemy  are  now  in  our  rear,"  to  which  the 
General  replied,  "well  ding  it,  aint  we  in  thairn?"  It  was  diffi- 
cult to  tell  which  was  the  nearest  out  of  wind,  the  horse  or  the 
rider.  That  night  at  eight  o'clock  Walthall  retired  to,  and  took 
position  in,  the  works  that  had  been  hastily  thrown  up  around 
Pulaski.  After  destroying  every  thing  that  could  not  be  gotten 
away,  including  two  trains  of  cars,  at  day-light  of  the  25th  we 
fell  back  again,  leaving  Jackson's  cavalry  to  hold  the  place  as 
long  as  he  could  and  on  his  retiring,  burn  the  bridge. 

Soon  after  leaving  Pulaski  we  left  the  main  pike  and 
encountered  roads  almost  impassable.  The  rains,  freezing,  and 
thawing  made  the  ground  so  soft  that  our  artillery  and  ord- 
nance wagons  moved  slowly  and  with  great  difficulty.  Several 
ordnance  wagons  were  left  in  an  old  field  through  which  we 
passed  after  we  left  Pulaski.  Strahl's  brigade,  just  before  leav- 
ing the  field,  halted  in  the  edge  of  the  field  but  for  a  moment, 
when  a  courier  came  dashing  up  with  this  order  to  Col.  Heis- 
kell  from  Gen.  Forrest:  "Burn  them  wagons."  Col.  Heiskell 
had  "them  wagons  burned"  before  the  enemy  reached  them. 
Although  the  main  body  of  the  army  and  the  army  trains  had 
several  days  the  start  of  the  rear  guard  from  Columbia,  we 
began  now  to  come  up  with  the  straggling  wagons.  The  move- 


160  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

ment  of  our  wagon  train  was  so  slow,  the  enemy  kept  up  with 
us  easily  with  their  artillery  and  annoyed  us  more  or  less. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  25th,  Gen.  Forrest  ordered  Gen. 
Walthall  to  form  on 

ANTHONY'S  HILL, 

which  was  about  five  or  six  miles  from  Pulaski,  and  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  until  our  wagon  train  could  get  beyond  their 
reach  and  well  on  towards  the  river.  The  ground  on  Anthony's 
hill  was  so  broken  and  the  woods  so  dense  that  a  small  body  of 
men  could  be  easily  hidden.  Walthall  formed  his  men  so  that 
they  were  completely  concealed,  with  a  brigade  of  cavalry  on 
the  right  and  one  on  the  left  flank,  and  sent  out  a  skirmish  line 
in  front,  which  the  enemy  attacked  vigorously  and  drove  them 
in,  following  closely,  little  dreaming  there  was  a  line  lying  in 
wait  for  them.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  reached  Walthall 's  line, 
he  opened  fire  upon  them  from  his  hidden  place  with  his  infantry 
and  one  battery,  which  also  was  concealed,  pouring  into  them 
such  an  effective  fire  they  could  not  stand,  and  retired  in  con- 
fusion. Our  men  pushed  them  closely,  capturing  a  number  of 
prisoners  and  horses  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  teams. 

They  also  lost  several  in  killed  and  wounded.  As  dark 
came  on  Walthall  again  fell  back,  marching  until  midnight, 
when  he  reached  Sugar  Creek,  and  camped  for  the  remainder  of 
the  night,  having  fought  one  battle  and  marched  twenty-five  miles 
that  day.  This  incident  we  call  to  mind  of  that  night's  march: 
The  Old  Nineteenth  had  several  times  asked  Col.  Heiskell  to 
mount  them  and  join  the  cavalry.  As  we  approached  Sugar 
Creek  at  eleven  o'olock  at  night,  it  was  sleeting,  raining  and 
sloppy,  the  poor  fellows  were  silent,  and  all  was  still  save  the 
slash  and  splash  of  their  half-shod  feet  in  that  December 
night's  slush.  The  silence,  darkness  and  the  gloom  felt  op- 
pressive. Col.  Heiskell  called  out,  "boys,  how  do  you  like  the 
cavalry."  Several  replied,  "Ah,  Colonel,  this  is  not  regular 
cavalry."  Then  some  one  halloed  out,  "I  think  this  has  been 

pretty  d d  regular  for  the  past  forty  months."  So  when  we 

reached  Sugar  Creek  the  foot  cavalry  waded  it,  the  ice-cold  wa- 
ter coming  up  to  our  waist. 

It  seemed  that  the  nearer  we  came  to  the  river  the  more 
vigorously  we  were  pressed  by  the  enemy,  as  as  if  they  were 
determined  on  bagging  their  game  before  it  could  escape. 
Again  we  ran  upon  our  wagons,  several  of  which  were  loaded 


SUGAR   CREEK.  161 

with  ammunition.  A  part  of  the  teams  had  been  taken  to  assist 
in  hurrying  up  the  pontoon  wagons.  Before  day  of  the  26th, 
the  Vagons  were  pushed  on  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

SUGAR    CREEK. 

Walthall  put  Reynold's  and  Field's  brigades  between  the 
two  crossings  of  the  creek;  Palmer's  and  Featherstone's  bri- 
gades on  the  south  side  of  the  crossing  in  a  strong  position. 
The  Old  Nineteenth,  being  in  Field's  brigade,  was  between  the 
two  crossings.  The  fog  this  morning  was  so  dense  you  could 
discern  an  object  only  a  short  distance  from  you,  which 
enabled  our  two  brigades  to  conceal  themselves.  They 
sent  forward  a  small  squad  a  short  distance  as  pickets.  Wil- 
son's cavalry  was  the  vanguard  of  the  enemy  and  when  they 
came  upon  our  pickets  they  dismounted  and  commenced  skir- 
mishing. The  small  picket  force  fell  back  quickly  to  our  main 
line,  the  enemy  came  charging  after  them,  but  they  ran  upon  a 
much  larger  force  than  they  expected,  and  being  met  by  a  ter- 
rible fire  from  an  ambush,  turned  and  fled. 

Reynold's  and  Field's  brigades  followed  in  hot  pursuit,  and 
the  creek  being  in  the  way  of  the  enemy  our  boys  captured 
nearly  all  of  the  horses  of  one  regiment  and  a  good  many  pris- 
oners. Our  cavalry  pursued  them  for  some  distance.  Colonel 
Heiskell  often  said  that  this  was  the  most  striking  spectacle  he 
witnessed  during  the  whole  war.  Here  came  the  hosts  of  Fed- 
erals, flushed  with  victory,  in  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance 
of  glorious  war.  There  stood  the  tattered,  scarred  and  hungry, 
worn  remnants  of  eight  brigades,  no  one  of  which  had  over  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men  in  them;  (Strahl's  brigade  had 
only  one  hundred  and  twelve  men)  and  yet  when  the  command 
"charge"  was  given,  as  one  man  they  sprang  at  the  on-coming 
foe,  and  with  the  rebel  yell  ringing  loud  above  the  din  of  battle 
they  swept  the  finely  equipped  Federal  force  from  the  field. 
This  attack  was  met  by  such  an  unexpected  and  powerful  re- 
sistance that  it  seemed  to  knock  all  the  enthusiasm  out  of  our 
pursuers  and  they  let  us  alone. 

From  this  on  they  hung  on  our  rear  at  a  safe  distance  and 
we  moved  and  halted  at  our  leisure.  Resuming  the  march,  we 
camped  that  night  within  twenty  miles  of  the  river.  The  next 
morning  we  continued  our  march  to  Shoal  Creek,  which  we 
reached  and  crossed  by  two  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Here  Wai- 


162  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

thall  formed  line  again,  while  the  cavalry  moved  on  towards  the 
river.  After  midnight  of  the  28th,  Gen.  Walthall  issued  the 
following  order: 

Headquarters  of  the  Infantry  force  of  the  Rear  Guard, 

December  28th,  2  A.  M.,  1864. 
Circular  No.  1. 

Featherstone's  brigade  will  move  at  once,  without  further 
orders,  across  the  bridge,  to  be  followed  by  Field's  and  then 
Palmer's.  Gen.  Reynolds  will  withdraw  his  command  from 
Shoal  Creek  in  time  to  reach  the  main  line  by  daylight,  leaving 
a  skirmish  line  behind  for  half  an  hour.  Ector's  brigade 
will  cover  the  road  until  the  whole  command  has  passed,  then 
he  will  follow,  leaving  a  skirmish  line  until  the  rear  of  his  bri- 
gade is  on  the  bridge.  Move  with  promptness  and  in  good  or- 
der. 

By  command  of  Ma j. -Gen.  Walthall, 

E.  D.  CLARK, 

Asst.  Adj. -Gen. 

So  at  three  o^clock  in  the  morning  of  December  28th,  we 
moved  out  from  Shoal  Creek,  excepting  Reynold's  brigade, 
which  remained  as  guard  and  picket  until  nearly  daylight,  when 
he  moved  out  quickly.  Gen.  Walthall  moved  on  with  his  three 
brigades  and  occupied  the  works  covering  the  pontoon  bridge. 
The  pontoon  spanned  the  Mussel  Shoals  at  Bainbridge,  where 
the  water  seemed  to  run  fifty  miles  an  hour.  The  main  army 
with  its  trains,  the  Artillery  and  Cavalry,  having  crossed  and 
out  of  the  way,  our  rear  guard  began  to  cross  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. Featherston  first,  Field  next,  then  Palmer,  and  lastly 
Reynolds.  Then  Hood's  army  was  again  south  of  the  Tennes- 
see river.  And  only  then  did  we  feel  relieved  from  the  constant 
pressure  of  an  unrelenting  foe. 

At  Columbia,  as  we  came  out,  Nathan  Jordan,  of  Co.  C, 
was  wounded  and  captured,  and  we  lost  one  man  killed  at  Sugar 
Creek.  Name  we  did  not  get. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


RESULTS   AND   INCIDENTS. 

IT  was  just  forty-three  days  from  the  time  Hood  crossed  the 
river  at  Florence  with  his  jubilant  army  on  his  way  into 

Tennessee,  until  he  recrossed  at  Bainbridge  with  but  a  frag- 
ment of  his  former  force. 

These  forty-three  days  were  sad  ones  to  Hood  and  his  army. 
In  them  were  crowded  the  disastrous  battle  of  Franklin  and  the 
utter  defeat  and  rout  of  his  army  at  Nashville.  As  a  result  he 
lost  one  Major-General  killed,  four  Major-Generals  wounded — 
namely,  Cleburne  killed;  Brown,  Johnson,  Lee,  and  Buford 
wounded;  and  five  brigadier-Generals  killed — namely,  Gran- 
berry,  Carter,  Strahl,  Gist,  and  Adams.  There  were  nine  Brig- 
adier. Generals  wounded,  viz.:  Govan,  Sears,  Jackson,  Gor- 
don, Deas,  Cockrell,  Quarles,  Scott,  and  Managault, 

Of  these,  Generals  Johnson,  Jackson,  Deas,  Gordon,  Smith 
and  Sears  were  captured.  He  lost  nearly  one-half  of  his  regi- 
mental officers,  and  about  thirty  per  cent,  of  his  men;  nearly 
one-half  of  his  ordnance  train  and  nearly  all  of  his  artillery. 
As  to  the  suffering  of  the  men,  none  but  those  who  were  there, 
can  form  an  adequate  conception  of  what  the  men  underwent  in 
this  campaign,  and  withjwhat  fortitude  they  bore  up  under  it 
all.  There  were  many  phases  in  the  soldier's  life  in  this  cam- 
paign, amidst  its  hardships  and  toils  and  suffering  that  were 
amusing,  and  the  many  cunning  and  adroit  ways  the  boys  used 
in  getting  what  they  wanted.  We  mention  one  to  show  what 
they  will  do.  Clabe  Perry,  of  Co.  E,  with  Lieut.  J.  Waller, 
leaving  Pulaski  one  evening  straggled  off  the  main  road  the 
army  was  on,  and  traveled  that  evening  to  suit  themselves.  As 
they  were  passing  a  log  cabin,  Clabe  espied  some  leaf  tobacco 
hanging  in  the  chimney  corner.  Going  up  to  the  house  they 
found  no  one  there  but  an  old  woman.  During  these  times,  provi- 
sions, especially  salt,  coffee  and  sugar,  were  veiy  scarce,  and 


164  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

they  who  were  lucky  enough  to  have  these  luxuries  kept  them 
hidden,  and  if  they  should  be  called  for,  would  be  out,  and  had 
been  for  mouths,  which  was  indeed  the  truth  in  many  instances. 
The-old  lady  had  one  son  of  ten  summers,  who  had  then  gone  to 
mill  with  a  grist  of  corn,  and  would  be  back  soon. 

Clabe  purchased  some  of  the  tobacco,  and  then  inquired  for 
sorghum.  She  said  she  had  some  in  the  smoke-house.  The 
Lieutenant  and  the  old  lady,  went  around  into  the  smoke-house 
for  the  sorghum,  and  Clabe  slipped  into  the  house,  and  in  his 
prowling,  found  in  the  bed  a  small  sack  of  salt  and  a  pair  of 
yellow  jeans  pants,  evidently  belonging  to  the  boy,  putting 
these  under  his  blanket,  he  hastened  out  where  the  old  woman 
and  the  Lieutenant  were  measuring  sorghum.  Clabe  said, 
"madam,  we  have  no  money,  but  will  pay  you  for  your  sorghum 
in  salt,  as  we  have  more  than  we  can  carry."  The  old  woman 
said,  "La,  me!  that  is  just  what  I  want,  I  have  not  had  any 
any  salt  for  a  month."  So  Clabe  paid  the  old  woman  for  her 
sorghum  with  her  own  salt. 

They  wanted  meal,  and  inquired  the  way  to  the  mill,  and 
started  out  with  the  expectation  of  meeting  her  son,  which  they 
did.  Clabe  wanted  to  buy  some  meal  from  the  boy,  but  he  refused ; 
Clabe  begged,  and  finally  told  the  boy  that  he  had  a  pair  of 
pants,  sent  him  from  home,  that  were  too  small,  which  he  would 
give  him  for  a  little  meal.  They  traded,  and  when  Clabe  took 
out  the  pants,  the  boy  said,  "I  have  a  pair  at  home  just  like 
them;"  to  which  Cabe  said,  "So  you  may,  but  two  pair  of  pants 
wont  hurt  you,  as  you  see  they  are  good  ones." 

So  Clabe  paid  the  boy  for  his  meal  with  his  own  pants. 
Clabe  was  a  daisy!  whisky  and  tobacco  he  would  have,  if  it  were 
in  the  country;  when  in  camp,  he  would  kill  any  rooster  that 
dared  to  disturb  and  awake  his  Colonel  by  crowing;  and  in  line 
of  battle,  would  stand  and  shoot  with  the  bravest.  Late  one 
evening,  about  dark,  before  we  reached  the  river,  our  command 
halted  for  the  night.  Two  of  the  boys  and  myself  went  further 
on,  about  half  a  mile,  seeking  shelter,  for  it  was  bitter  cold. 
We  had  plenty  of  raw  bacon  and  crackers  and  were  not  hunting 
anything  to  eat,  only  shelter.  We  came  to  a  house  where  were 
only  four  persons,  a  mother  arid  three  children,  the  youngest 
perhaps  four  years  old.  We  asked  for  shelter  for  the  night, 
and  she  granted  our  request.  We  found  her  cooking  lye  hom- 
iny, the  only  thing,  and  all  she  had,  in  the  way  of  provisions. 


RESULTS   AND   INCIDENTS.  16o 

The  night  was  dark  and  gloomy,  and  the  bright  light  from  the 
old  fire-place  looked  cheerful  to  us,  but  it  revealed  a  sorrowful 
expression  on  the  care-worn  face  of  the  mother,  as  she  prepared 
the  last  morsel  of  food  for  herself  and  children,  not  knowing 
from  whence  the  next  would  come  The  hominy,  when  done, 
was  put  upon  the  table,  and  she  invited  us  to  partake  with  them. 
We  were  not  hungry,  and  did  not  partake,  nor  could  we,  had  we 
been.  When  they  were  ready  to  eat  we  all  three  emptied  our 
haversacks  on  the  table.  Soon  we  lay  down  upon  the  floor  and 
slept,  more  soundly  and  comfortably  than  for  many  a  night 
gone  by.  The  next  morning  we  felt  amply  repaid  for  the  rations 
we  gave  them  in  the  comfortable  refreshing  rest  we  had,  and 
bidding  them  adieu,  we  fell  in  with  our  command. 

There  were  other  incidents  we  could  mention ;  some  amus- 
ing and  others  sad,  but  these  are  sufficient.  What  a  grand 
panorama  would  one's  life  present,  if  it  could  be  photographed 
in  one  grand  review  as  a  whole. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


TUPELO. 

HOOD  after  crossing  the  river,  moved  on  to  Corinth,  Missis- 
sippi. Here  we  rested  for  a  few  days,  and  while  here 
General  Hood  furloughed  many  of  the  men,  those  from 
Middle  Term.,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi.  Although  their  fur- 
loughs were  but  for  a  few  days,  but  few  of  the  men  ever  re- 
turned to  the  army  again.  Our  roll  calls  were  now  soon  over 
with,  for  but  few  names  were  upon  each  company's  roll,  and 
the  army  seemed  but  a  Corporal's  guard.  From  here  we  moved 
to  Tupelo,  Miss.,  starting  out  in  a  pelting  rain  as  usual,  arid 
after  a  muddy  tramp  of  three  days  we  reached  Tupelo  on  the 
13th  of  January,  1865.  We  expected  to  draw  clothing  at  Cor- 
inth, but  there  was  none  for  us.  Many  of  us  without  shoes, 
our  clothing  ragged  and  torn,  pants  hanging  in  threads  at  the 
bottom.  Some  had  only  a  piece  of  a  coat,  and  the  crown  of 
their  hats  all  gone,  partly  the  effect  of  bullets.  The  bare-footed 
had  sore  and  bleeding  feet,  and  each  foot  was  loth  to  follow 
the  other  as  they  moved.  But  amidst  the  ruin  and  wreck,  the 
years  of  toil  and  battle  had  brought,  the  Old  Nineteenth,  what 
was  left  of  it,  had  vitality  left  to  stand  erect,  and  when  there 
were  posts  of  danger  to  be  filled,  she  was  always  ready  to 
respond:  "Here  am  I,  send  me."  We  were  proud  of  the  Old  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee;  proud  of  her  record;  and  although  with  worn 
and  tattered  uniforms,  she  walked  with  military  step.  Here  at 
Tupelo  we  drew  clothing  and  rations,  and  after  a  few  days  rest 
the  men  presented  a  new  appearance.  Here  Gen.  Hood  turned 
over  to  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson  what  was  left  of  his  army. 
The  military  career  of  the  venturous  and  recklessly  brave  Gen- 
eral was  about  ended. 

Gen.  Beauregard  in  speaking  of  Gen.  Hood,  just  after  he 
had  turned  the  command  over  to  Gen.  Johnson,  in  regard  to 


TUPELO.  167 

the  death  of  the  army  of  Tennessee,  said,  "No  one  seemed 
more  keenly  alive  to  the  fact,  and  suffered  more  from  it  than 
Gen.  Hood  himself,  and  I  had  not  the  heart  to  disgrace  him  by 
censure,  or  ordering  his  removal." 

In  the  opinion  of  the  writer  there  was  no  cause  for  disgrace 
or  room  for  censure,  and  we  believe  it  will  echo  the  feeling  of 
the  army.  From  the  depth  of  the  heart  we  can  but  say:  "Poor 
Hood,  you  have  our  sympathies,  our  respects  and  our  love." 

GEN.  JOSEPH  E.  JOHNSON. 

Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnson  took  command  of  the  army  again, 
but  it  was  not  the  army  he  turned  over  to  Hood  before  reach- 
ing Atlanta,  It  had  lost  the  bloom  and  vigor  of  its  former  self, 
and  was  now  composed  of  only  about  eighteen  thousand  five 
hundred  (18.500)  infantry,  and  two  thousand  three  hundred 
(2.300)  cavalry.  The  artillery  Hood  turned  over  to  Gen. 
Thomas.  Soon  the  men  were  in  a  condition  to  move  again, 
Johnson  began  sending  them  away  by  detachments  to  intercept 
and  combat  with  Sherman  again  who  was  some  where  in  North 
Carolina.  Cheatham  was  the  last  to  move,  this  we  did  leaving 
the  25th.  of  January,  marching  to  West  Point  Mississippi, 
which  we  reached  on  the  28th.  We  remained  here  three  days 
and  fared  sumptuously  each  day  on  hog  and  hominy  and  had 
plenty  to  spare.  From  here  we  took  the  cars  for  Meridian, 
where  we  moved  out  into  a  swamp  to  camp.  The  first  night  in 
camp  the  rain  flooded  us  so  much  that  we  were  forced  to 
move  out  of  the  water.  We  left  Meridian  for  Demopilis  Ala- 
bama, over  an  exceedingly  rough  railroad.  The  train  made 
only  six  miles  an  hour.  The  boys  would  climb  down  off  the 
cars  and  run  out  to  a  house  some  times  a  hundred  yards  away, 
return,  and  catch  up  with  the  train  and  climb  on  again.  Pass- 
ing on  through  Demopilis  Feb.  13th,  we  went  on  to  Selma 
where  we  rested  one  day  and  took  boat  for  Montgomery,  arriv- 
ing there  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  evening  we  started  for  Columbus,  Ga.,  with  a  great  many 
of  the  boys  on  a  drunk.  Zack  Smith,  whose  bravery  at  Frank- 
lin has  been  mentioned,  stole  a  mule  at  Selma  and  put  it  on 
board  the  boat  with  us  and  took  it  with  the  command  to  Mont- 
gomery where  he  sold  it  for  sixteen  hundred  dollars  in  confed- 
erate money ;  and  with  this  money  took  all  the  regiment  who 
would  go,  on  a  big  "drunk." 


168  THE   OLD    NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

At  Columbus  the  ladies  gave  us  a  hearty  welcome,  and 
spread  before  us  refreshments,  something  that  had  not  been 
done  for  us  for  three  long  years.  Leaving  here  we  moved  out 
for  Macon,  which  we  reached  the  seventeenth  of  February,  then 
on  to  Milledgeville  the  capital  of  the  state.  From  Milledgeville 
we  had  to  march  to  Mayfield  where  we  again  took  the  cars  for 
Augusta,  which  we  passed  through  after  dark ;  and  leaving  the 
cars  we  passed  on  out  and  across  the  river  where  we  camped 
and  remained  all  day  of  the  twentieth.  Leaving  here  we 
directed  our  way  afoot  to  Newberry,  South  Carolina,  where  we 
formed  junction  with  the  rest  of  the  army  that  left  us  in  Mis- 
sissippi. When  we  were  in  Macon,  Ga.,  Lieut.  W.  B.  Miller 
and  Sergeant  James  Havely,  of  Co.  K,  got  permission  to  remain 
three  days  in  Macon.  And  to  regain  their  command  they  had 
to  travel  later,  earlier  and  faster  than  the  army.  On  their  way 
they  passed  through  Milledgeville  before  sun-down,  and  on  out 
from  the  city  some  four  miles  when  night  came  on.  They 
halted  at  a  fine  country  residence,  [which  they  learned  after- 
wards was  called 

SUNSHINE. 

They  called  and  asked  permission  to  remain  over  night, 
which  was  cheerfully  granted  and  they  were  warmly  received. 
They  entered  the  hall  and  deposited  their  luggage,  which  con- 
sisted of  a  sword,  gun  and  accoutrements,  canteens,  and 
haversacks,  behind  the  door  in  the  hall.  Their  haversacks 
were  partly  filled  with  meal  and  in  each  a  small  piece  of  fat 
bacon.  They  were  ushered  into  the  sitting  room,  which  was 
nicely  furnished,  indeed  all  the  surroundings  showed  signs  of 
thrift,  elegance  and  culture.  At  first  they  were  entertained  by 
a  fine  stately  looking  and  dignified  old  gentleman,  whose  head 
was  white  from  the  ripening  of  many  winters,  but  whose  intel- 
lect seemed  to  be  at  its  zenith.  Soon  another  gentleman  came 
in,  tall,  portly  and  of  commanding  appearance,  whose  physi- 
ognomy portrayed  a  gigantic  mind.  In  fact  the  two  soldiers 
were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  whole  house  was  filled 
with  an  atmosphere  of  composure  and  happiness  that  they  had 
not  seen  elsewhere.  It  seemed  to  them  that  the  ravages  of  war 
had  not  reached  this  home,  and  that  heaven  had  so  marked  it, 
that  the  hand  of  the  destroyer  had  passed  it  by,  and  sought  its 
victims  in  other  homes.  When  bed-time  came,  the  two  in  uni- 
form learned  who  their  hosts  were.  The  elder  of  the  two,  said 
to  the  other  one,  "George  you  must  act  as  high  priest  to-night." 


SUNSHINE.  169 

Then  Bishop  Pierce  took  the  Bible  and  led  in  family  devotion. 
They  were  at  the  home  of  Bishop  Pierce,  and  with  him  was  his 
father,  Dr.  Lovic  Pierce.  That  night  while  they  slept,  Mrs. 
Pierce  took  their  haversacks  and  emptied  them  of  their  meal 
and  bacon,  and  filled  them  with  ham,  biscuit,  preserves  and 
pickles,  and  put  them  back  in  their  place.  The  next  morning 
the  two  soldiers,  rising  early,  left  without  disturbing  the  fam- 
ily, and  on  examining  their  haversacks  were  made  glad,  and 
went  on  their  way  rejoicing,  feeling  that  it  was  good  to  tarry, 
if  but  a  night,  with  the  people  of  God. 

Since  our  entrance  into  South  Carolina,  we  marched  for 
several  days  in  an  almost  incessant  rain,  without  a  single  ray 
of  sunshine.  All  of  the  streams  on  the  way  were  swollen,  and 
nearly  all  of  which  we  had  to  wade.  We  reached  Chester, 
South  Carolina,  March  the  6th,  where  we  rested  several  days. 
While  here,  two  of  the  regiment  and  the  writer  went  out  two 
miles  to  a  country  residence  to  have  some  washing  done.  We 
had  only  one  shirt  each,  and  had  that  on,  and  it  dirty.  We  had 
none  to  put  on  while  these  were  being  washed.  We  went  to  a 
negro  cabin  in  the  rear  part  of  the  yard,  where  three  old  negro 
women  were  washing,  and  said,  "Auntie  we  want  our  shirts 
washed,  and  have  no  others  to  put  on  while  this  is  being  done." 
"La,  bless  you  child,"  said  Auntie,  "don't  care  for  that,  jes' 
pull  'em  off  and  sit  down,  we  will  wash  'em,  and  hurry,  too." 
During  the  conversation  with  old  Auntie,  we  found  that  same 
feeling  of  trust  and  confidence  existed  here  as  at  home.  They 
seemed  as  solicitous  for  their  young  masters  who  were  in  the 
Confederate  army,  and  for  their  return  home  as  any  member  of 
the  household,  for  as  they  said,  we  raised  young  master  from 
baby-hood.  They  expressed  fears  of  never  seeing  them  again. 

With  them  slavery  had  not  been  abolished.  They  knew  no 
other  home  but  this  one,  and  loved  no  other.  To  them  it  was 
their  paradise,  and  its  surroundings  were  sacred  to  them,  they 
were  happy.  In  the  days  of  slavery  there  were  in  almost  every 
family  trusted  servants,  who  had  been  raised  from  childhood 
to  do  special  service  in  the  household  of  their  mistress,  and  be- 
tween them  and  not  only  their  masters,  but  the  entire  house- 
hold, and  especially  the  white  children,  there  existed  a  strong 
feeling  of  mutual  affection.  There  were  in  almost  every  family 
those  among  the  number  of  slaves  whom  the  children  called 
BLACK  MAMMY,  aged  women,  in  whose  care  and  keeping  were 
placed  the  children. 


170  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

Their  authority  was  almost  equal  to  that  of  the  mother,  and 
for  them  the  children  entertained  almost  the  tender  love  they 
did  for  their  own  mother.  To  this  BLACK  MAMMY  the  children 
carried  their  grievances;  into  her  ears  their  childish  stories  told, 
and  at  any  time  when  the  children  wanted  anything  they  knew 
to  whom  to  go,  for  they  were  never  turned  away  empty.  Their 
childish  hearts  were  often  made  glad  by  a  kiss  from  BLACK 
MAMMY'S  lips.  No  doubt  there  are  many  now,  who  from  the 
depths  of  their  heart,  pray  the  blessings  of  God  upon  their  OLD 
BLACK  MAMMY,  who  may  be  living.  Many  of  the  negro  men  were 
faithful  during  the  war,  and  when  the  war  had  ended  were  loth 
to  give  up  the  home  that  had  sheltered,  fed  and  cared  for  them 
so  long,  still  remained  and  worked  on,  on  the  old  plantation. 
We  knew  some,  who  after  our  Southern  homes  were  occupied 
by  Federal  bayonets,  when  the  boys  from  the  Confederate  army 
slipped  in  home,  would  hide  them,  care  for  them  by  carrying 
them  provisions,  and  every  comfort,  and  would  lead  them  out 
safely  through  the  Federal  pickets,  when  they  returned  to  the 
army. 

These  are  not  merely  isolated  cases,  but  a  few  among  the 
thousands  throughout  the  South.  Pardon  us  for  the  digression 
from  our  shirt- washing.  Having  given  old  auntie  our  shirts, 
we  tried  to  button  our  coats,  so  no  one  could  see  we  had  no  un- 
der garment,  but  our  coats  did  not  meet  the  emergency  by  a 
good  deal;  we  could  fasten  only  one  button  and  that  at  the  top. 
One  of  the  Generals,  with  all  his  staff,  had  their  headquarters  at 
this  house.  It  so  happened  that  we  had  dropped  in  near  noon,  for 
we  had  not  been  there  long  when  we  heard  dinner  announced. 

Mrs.  Palmer,  at  whose  house  we  were,  sent  for  us  to  come 
and  take  dinner,  we  returned  thanks  for  kindness  and  excused 
ourselves,  but  no  excuse  would  she  take,  and  coming  herself, 
she  said,  "I  see  you  have  on  no  shirts,  but  no  one  shall  come 
into  the  dining  room  but  myself,  I  will  wait  on  you."  Her 
youngest  daughter  had  given  us  the  first  invitation,  and  at  once 
appreciated  our  excuse.  She  reported  to  the  rest  of  the  family, 
but  Mrs.  Palmer  agreed  to  keep  out  all  young  ladies.  We  had 
but  cleverly  seated  ourselves,  when  three  young  ladies  filed 
into  the  room  and  helped  our  plates,  then  sat  down  opposite  to, 
and  ate  with  us.  The  kindness  and  affableness  of  the  young- 
ladies,  together  with  that  of  the  mother,  soon  wore  off  our  em- 
barrassment, and  we  enjoyed  our  dinner,  as  we  had  not  for  a 
long  time. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


FAITHFUL. 

"Tell  what  else  you  please,  ye  slanderers  of  my  native  South, 
But  tell  no  longer  that  the  fair  maid  and  matrons, 
Of  Southern  homes,  were  idle,  vain,  fancy  flowers, 
Cultured  by  slaves,  strangers  to  work,  or  solid  worth. 
In  all  our  huts,  in  farmers'  homes  aad  planters'  places, 
Out  of  which  teemed  the  brave  Southern  soldier, 
Worked  the  livelong  day,  the  soldier's  sister,  the  soldier's  wife. 
The  brave  boys'  mother,  and  the  maid  he  loved, 
To  clothe  and  feed  the  loved  ones  on  the  tented  fields." 

THE  thought  of  the  loved  ones  at  home,  helped  the  South- 
ern soldier  over  many  a  hard  place.  They  were  not  urged 
forward  by  the  mere  feeling  of  the  romantic,  but  deeper 
laid,  in  the  recesses  of  the  heart,  were  found  the  impetus  to  en- 
dure the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life,  for  they  well  knew  at  home 
were  busy  hands  at  work  and  anxious  loving  hearts  sending  up 
incessant  prayers  for  them,  their  soldier  boys. 

We  left  Chester  at  noon  of  the  10th,  on  the  cars  and  passed 
through  Charlotte,  North  Carolina  and  on  to  Salisbury,  which 
we  reached  an  hour  after  sun  up  next  morning.  Here  we  re- 
mained nearly  one  week.  The  next  day  after  our  arrival  was 
Sunday,  and  we  went  to  church ;  the  first  opportunity  we  had 
had  for  a  long  time.  At  the  service  in  the  morning  the  negroes 
occupied  the  gallery,  and  at  night  they  held  forth  in  the  lower 
pews,  and  the  white  folks  occupied  the  gallery.  We  attended 
both  services.  The  negroes  concluded  their  services  by"  sing- 
ing, "I  am  going  home  to  die  no  more,"  during  which  they 
were  all  in  a  perfect  furor,  going  around  shaking  each  other's 
hands  and  keeping  time  by  the  tramp  of  their  feet.  While 
we  were  here  the  rain  was  almost  continual.  The  streets,  and 
especially  around  the  depot,  were  almost  impassable  on  account 
of  the  mud.  We  remained  here  longer  than  expected,  for  we 


172  THE  .OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

were  needed  in  front  of  Sherman.  We  began  to  move  on  Sat- 
urday by  rail,  and  everything  seemed  to  be  delayed,  officers  as 
well  as  men,  anxious  to  be  away,  none  more  so  than  Gen. 
Cheatham,  who  began  to  get  into  a  great  bluster. 

One  train  had  pulled  out,  another  was  ready  with  the  troops 
on  board  the  cars,  standing  on  the  track.  Our  brigade  was  wait- 
ing for  its  train,  but  could  not  get  on  until  this  one  was  out  of 
the  way.  Gen.  Cheatham  wanted  this  train  to  move  and  called 
out,  "Where  is  the  conductor  of  this  train?"  The  conductor  all 
dressed  up  in  his  dudish  uniform,  was  standing  in  two  or  three 
steps  of  Gen.  Cheatham,  on  the  curbing  and  said,  "I  am  the 
conductor."  "Why  don't  you  move  out  with  your  train,  what 
are  you  waiting  on,"  said  Cheatham.  The  conductor,  not 
knowing  who  Cheatham  was,  replied,  "I  am  running  that  part 
of  the  business  sir."  He  had  not  more  than  finished  his  re- 
mark, when  Cheatham  let  him  feel  the  full  weight  of  his  fist, 
and  landed  him  full  length  out  in  the  mud.  It  is  needless  to 
say  the  conductor  was  up  and  had  his  train  moving  before  he 
took  time  to  shake  off  the  mud.  We  pulled  out  late  Saturday 
evening,  and  left  the  cars  at  Smithfield  late  Sunday  night. 
Monday  morning  early,  we  started  for  the  front,  and  marched 
about  twenty  miles,  when  we  again  began  to  hear  the  old  fa- 
miliar sound  of  cannon  in  the  vicinity  of 

BENTONVILLE. 

We  hurried  on  and  early  Tuesday  evening  we  reached  the 
scene  of  action  just  in  time  to  prevent  the  coming  of  a  column 
of  the  enemy  through  a  gap  in  our  line  of  battle  between  the  right 
and  left  wings  of  the  army.  Here  our  brigade  and  regiment 
had  its  first  encounter  with  the  enemy  on  the  new  field,  and 
since  we  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  on  our  return  from  Nash- 
ville. We  drove  them  back  and  completed  the  broken  line. 
Gen.  Hardee  and  part  of  Johnson's  men  had  been  hotly  engaged 
with  the  enemy  all  the  morning.  There  was  considerable  skir- 
mishing all  that  evening.  The  next  morning  Sherman  attempted 
to  flank  Hardee's  left  when  Cheatham  met  them,  holding  them 
in  check  against  considerable  odds  in  numbers.  As  we  moved 
to  Hardee's  left  we  passed  Johnson's  headquarters  in  the 
smoky  pines,  and  all  the  boys  as  they  passed  took  off  their  hats 
and  gave  him  a  loud,  hearty  cheer. 

The  fighting  this  morning  all  along  the  line  was  quite 
heavy,  and  at  different  points  on  [the  line  the  enemy  made 


BENTONVILLE.  173 

repeated   attempts  to  f break  it,  but  failed.     In  one  of  these 
attacks  Gen.  Hardee  lost  his  son. 

We  never  fought  under  just  such  circumstances  before. 
The  entire  woods  was  filled  with  smoke,  black  and  sooty,  we 
could  scarcely  see.  It  filled  not  only  our  eyes,  but  our  mouths. 
We  were  in  a  turpentine  country,  the  trees  all  peeled  and  cov- 
ered with  rosin,  and  about  every  fiftieth  tree  was  on  fire,  and  in 
addition  to  these,  were  two  turpentine  stills  burning,  with  sev- 
eral barrels  of  rosin.  Great  black  volumns  of  smoke  filled  all 
the  woods  and  rendered  it  almost  intolerable. 

Johnson  had  but  a  fragment  of  his  once  magnificent  army, 
and  compared  with  Sherman's,  it  was  not  more  than  a  cor- 
poral's guard. 

Our  men  were  almost  worn  out,  having  lost  so  much  sleep, 
and  being  so  used  to  the  roar  of  musketry  and  artillery,  that  on 
the  field  of  Bentonville,  when  not  actually  engaged,  they  would 
lie  down  and  sleep  while  the  shells  burst,  sometimes,  almost 
over  them.  The  music  of  battle  seemed  to  lull  them  to  sleep. 
The  Confederate  soldier  was  as  generous  as  brave,  to  foe  as  to 
friend,  and  when  they  were  in  our  hands  were  ever  ready  to 
help  in  time  of  trouble. 

On  the  battle-field  of  Bentonville,  the  Federal  line  had  been 
repulsed  and  their  dead  and  wounded  left  on  the  field,  and  as 
our  men  moved  over  the  field  one  of  the  boys  had  a  canteen 
partly  filled  with  whisky,  and  passing  a  Federal  lying  on  the 
field,  with  a  leg  nearly  torn  off  by  a  shell,  stopped,  and  lifting 
the  wounded  soldier  in  Blue  up,  with  his  head  leaning  on  his 
arm,  gave  him  several  good  swallows  of  whisky.  After  he  had 
drank,  the  Federal  soldier  looked  up  in  the  face  of  his  (can't  I 
say)  friend,  and  said,  "I  thank  God,  Johnnie  Reb,  it 
may  come  around  some  day  that  I  can  help  you,  and  I  shall 
never  forget  this  drink  of  whisky."  The  Confederate  laid  the 
wounded  soldier  down  and  hastened  on  into  the  fight,  which 
lasted  until  dark. 

That  night  Johnson  fell  back  across  Mill  Creek,  about  two 
miles,  where  we  remained  about  three  days,  when  we  moved 
within  three  miles  of  Smithfield,  where  we  remained  for  several 
days,  waiting  on,  and  watching,  the  movements  of  Sherman. 
This  was,  virtually,  the  last  battle  of  the  war.  On  our  way  through 
North  and  South  Carolinas,  many  of  our  men  left  us  for  their 


174  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

homes,  especially  North  and  South  Carolinians,  and  East  Ten- 
nesseeans.  We  were  sorry  they  left  us.  It  may  be  they  saw  but 
little  prospect  of  success  ahead  of  us,  their  patriotism  having 
burned  out  left  only  blackened  and  charred  hopes.  While  their 
help  might  not  have  amounted  to  very  much,  their  presence  and 
willingness  to  assist,  would  have  added  greatly  in  cheering  the 
rest  of  us  on  to  bear  the  brunt  of  battle  and  the  drudgery  of  the 
march.  We  felt  the  last  struggle  was  on,  and  we,  who  had  been 
faithful  until  now,  could  not  desert  ^he  dying  Confederacy  in 
her  last  gasp  for  life.  Our  Chaplains,  during  all  of  these  days  of 
marching  and  fighting,  since  we  left  Palmetta,  Georgia,  had 
been  vigilant  in  watching  the  enemy  of  souls,  had  fought  him 
every  opportunity  offered.  Now  for  a  few  days,  our  Chaplain, 
Rev.  R.  W.  Norton,  preached  for  us,  and  also  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bennett,  of  the  12th  Tennessee,  nearly  every  day. 

April  the  1st,  General  Johnson  ordered  a  consolidation  of 
regiments,  troops  of  each  State  to  themselves.  All  the  Tennes- 
see regiments  to  form  one  corps  under  General  Hardee,  one  di- 
vision under  General  Cheatham,  one  brigade  under  General  Pal- 
mer. So  small  had  the  regiments  become,  that  out  of  all  the 
Tennessee  regiments  only  four  were  formed. 

These  four  represented  the  thirty-seven  regiments  in  the 
beginning,  and  was  the  remnant  of  thirty-seven  (37,000).  The 
first  regiment  was  composed  of  the  first,  sixth,  eighth,  ninth, 
sixteenth,  twenty-seventh,  twenty-eighth,  and  thirty-fourth 
Tennessee  regiments,  under  Colonel  Fields. 

The  second  regiment,  composed  of  the  eleventh,  twelfth,  thir- 
teenth, twenty-ninth,  forty-seventh,  fiftieth,  fifty-first,  fifty-sec- 
ond and  one  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  Tennessee  regiments,  un- 
der Colonel  Price. 

The  third  regiment,  composed  of  the  fourth,  fifth,  nine- 
teenth, twenty-fourth,  thirty-first,  thirty-third,  thirty-fifth,  thir- 
ty-eighth, and  forty-first  regiments,  under  Col.  J.  D.  Tillman. 

The  fourth  regiment,  composed  of  the  second,  third,  tenth, 
fifteenth,  eighteenth,  twentieth,  twenty-third,  twenty-sixth,  thir- 
ty-second, thirty-seventh,  and  forty-fifth  regiments,  under  Col- 
onel Searcey.  This  consolidation  was  never  confirmed  by  the 
administration,  as  it  was  too  near  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  regiment  had  only  two  com- 
panies. The  first  company,  composed  of  Companies,  A,  D,  E, 
F,  and  K,  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Jake  Waller. 


NEAKING  THE   END.  175 

The  second  company,  composed  of  companies  B,  C,  G,  H, 
and  I,  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Jake  Kimbrough. 

There  were  on  the  roll,  rank  and  file,  only  sixty-four  men 
of  the  regiment,  and  this  was  commanded  by  Colonel  C.  W. 
Heiskell  and  Major  J.  H.  Hannah.  Heiskell  was  promoted  to 
Colonel  just  after  our  return  from  Hood's  campaign  into  Ten- 
nessee. 

This  being  so  near  the  close  of  our  eventful  war  the  vacan- 
cy in  the  Lieut.  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment  was  never  filled. 
Co.  C.,  had  only  three  men,  Lieut.  W.  D.  Gammon,  R.  F.  Mc- 
Pherson,  and  Win.  R.  Irvin. 

Where  are  all  the  twelve  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men  who 
enlisted  from  first  to  last  in  the  regiment?  If  we  go  to  the  bat 
tie  fields  of  Barboursville,  Fishing  Creek,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg, 
Baton  Rouge,  Murfreesboro,  Chicamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Dai- 
ton,  Rocky  Face,  Resaca,  Adairsville,  Cass  Station,  Dallas, 
New  Hope,  Pine  Mountain,  Old  Kennesaw,  Smyrna,  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  22d  July,  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy,'  Franklin,  Nash- 
ville, Columbia  and  Bentonville  we  will  get  an  answer  for  a 
great  many  of  the  absentees,  and  on  the  many  picket  lines,  fell 
from  the  deadly  bullet  of  the  videttes  many  who  never  returned. 
We  left  Smithfield,  April  10th,  and  on  our  march  we  passed 
through  Raleigh  and  Chapel  Hill,  North  Carolina. 

There  had  fallen  and  was  still  falling  a  great  deal  of  rain, 
and  all  the  streams  were  full,  there  being  no  bridges  we  had  to 
wade  and  swim  them  all.  When  we  came  to  Cape  Fear  river 
it  was  much  swollen  and  rising  rapidly.  There  was  no  way  of 
crossing  but  to  swim.  The  men  tried  to  form  the  Monkey's 
chain  by  holding  each  others  hands,  but  the  current  was  too 
strong  and  broke  their  hold.  When  it  came  our  time  to  try  the 
water  we  gave  our  watch  to  Col.  Heiskell  to  keep  it  from  getting 
wet.  We  went  in  and  halted  and  debated  in  our  minds  whether 
to  go  on  or  return  as  the  water  then  was  under  our  arms  and 
deeper  further  on.  Just  then  Gen.  Cheathani  came  riding  in 
and  as  he  passed  us  we  caught  hold  of  his  horse's  tail  and 
landed  safely  on  the  other  side.  Finally  all  were  over  and  mid- 
night found  us  standing  around  our  camp  fires  drying  ourselves. 
The  next  morning  we  moved  out  and  camped  within  thirteen 
miles  of  Greensborough  with  Sherman  hovering  close  around 
us.  On  the  eighteenth  we  received  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender 
to  Grant.  Also  we  were  told  an  armistice  of  five  days  had  been 


176  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

agreed  upon  between  Johnson  and  Sherman.  The  news  of 
Lee's  surrender  and  Johnson's  negotiations  produced  a  feeling 
of  sadness  throughout  the  army.  Although  we  were  anxious 
for  the  war  to  end,  yet  we  were  hardly  prepared  for  a  surrend- 
er. We  had  not  calculated  and  looked  into  the  depth  of  a  sur- 
render, the  giving  up  as  lost  that  for  which  we  had  fought  so 
long  and  for  which  so  many  had  given  their  lives,  was  indeed 
hard,  and  the  idea  grated  like  harsh  thunder,  on  our  nerves. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  armistice  was  out  and  we 
were  told  at  noon  hostilities  would  be  resumed.  Orders  were 
given  to  get  ready  to  move  at  once,  which  we  did.  We  went 
into  camp  within  three  miles  of  Greensboro  where  we  drew 
rations  and  clothing.  Johnson's  headquarters  were  in  a  small 
log  cabin  not  far  from  Durham,  from  which  place  he  sent  a 
messenger  under  flag  of  truce  to  Gen.  Sherman  for  a  meeting  to 
arrange  for  a  surrender.  They  had  two  meetings  in  this  farm 
house  which  was  about  five  or  six  miles  from  Durham.  Here 
an  agreement  was  reached  and  on  April  the  26th,  1865  Johnson 
surrendered  the  army  of  Tennessee  to  Gen.  Sherman  and  the 
war  was  at  an  end.  As  soon  as  the  surrender  was  announced, 
excitement  ran  high  and  all  the  first  night  the  men  moved 
around  in  great  unrest;  but  little  sleeping  was  done  and  the 
only  topic  discussed  during  the  night  was  the  surrender.  The 
men  began  slipping  out  to  leave  for  home,  and  in  order  to  quiet 
the  unrest,  Johnson  ordered  daily  drill  and  inspection.  This 
gave  the  men  something  to  do  and  to  think  about.  We  remained 
here  until  the  pay  rolls  were  made  out,  and  complete  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  our  return  home.  Johnson  made  better 
terms  with  Sherman,  than  Lee  did  with  Grant. 

General  Sherman  had  the  kindest  regards  and  feelings  for 
General  Johnson.  Sherman  knew  Johnson  well;  knew  him 
personally,  socially,  and  had  tested  him  thoroughly  in  war.  In 
the  long  and  tedious  campaign  from  Dalton  to  Atlanta,  Sher- 
man said  he  never  caught  Johnson  napping,  or  off  his  guard, 
that  he  never  made  a  secret  move  but  Johnson  detected  it  and 
was  ready  to  meet  it.  After  the  surrender,  General  Johnson 
kept  control  of  the  men  until  the  army  crumbled  away  by  divis- 
ions, brigades  and  regiments,  each  under  its  respective  officers. 
They  dropped  out  here  and  there,  at  their  respective  homes 
until  the  last  vestage  of  a  once  magnificent  army  was  gone  for- 
ever. No  Confederate  soldier  will  ever  forget  General  John- 
son's last  order  to  them. 


CESSATION   OF   HOSTILITIES.  177 

When  we  called  the  men  into  line  to  hear  the  last  message 
of  their  leader  they  listened  with  sorrowful  hearts,  knowing  a 
separation  would  soon  follow,  never  to  meet  again  in  the  same 
relationship  as  had  been  for  the  last  four  years. 

Near  Greensboro,  N.  C., 
May  2nd,  1865. 
General  Order,  No.  22. 

P 1st 

P 2nd . . .  You  will  return  home  with  the  admira- 
tion of  our  people,  won  by  the  courage  and  noble  devotion  you 
have  displayed  in  this  long  war.  I  shall  always  remember  with 
pride  the  loyal  support  and  generous  confidence  you  have  given 
me.  I  now  part  with  you  with  deep  regret,  and  bid  you 
farewell,  with  feelings  of  cordial  friendship,  and  with  earnest 
wishes  that  you  may  have  hereafter  all  the  prosperity  and  hap- 
piness to  be  found  in  this  world. 

JOSEPH  E.  JOHNSON, 

General. 
Kincaid  Faulkner,  Ass't.  Adj't-General. 

After  receiving  our  pay-rolls  from  General  Sherman,  we 
bade  General  Johnson,  as  our  General,  an  eternal  farewell. 
Leaving  Greensboro,  May  the  14th,  we  moved  out  in  regular  or- 
der for  Salisbury.  On  our  way  we  passed  through  Thomasville 
and  the  ladies  (God  bless  them)  waved  the  Confederate  flag 
from  the  windows  of  the  Academy,  but  they  received  only  a 
faint  response.  We  felt  sad.  We  were  but  part  of  the  funer- 
al procession  going  home  from  the  burial  of  the  'dead  Con- 
federacy. At  Salisbury,  the  army  disintegrated. 

After  drawing  rations,  and  transportation  had  been  pro- 
vided, the  soldiers  separated,  the  greater  part  of  them  going 
South.  All  the  Tennesseeans  went  by  way  of  Asheville. 

When  the  Tennesseeans  had  passed  out  beyond  Salisbury, 
they  halted  and  formed  line  as  in  review,  when  General  Cheat- 
ham  came  down  the  line  shaking  the  hand  of  every  soldier,  not 
one  missed,  while  the  great  big  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks. 
There  was  not  an  eye  but  was  suffused  with  tears;  yea, 
they  were  fountains  of  tears.  As  the  generous  and  brave  Gen- 
eral, whom  we  all  loved,  shook  our  hands,  just  now  and  then 
could  he  get  out  the  word  "good-by."  The  great  upheaval  of 
his  loving,  sympathetic  heart  choked  him,  as  he  walked  down 


178  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

the  line  for  the  last  review  of  his  faithful  and  devoted  men,  "my 
boys,"  as  he  called  them,  and  whom  he  had  led  in  many  a  hard 
fought  battle.  Will  any  one,  who  was  present  at  this  scene, 
ever  forget  it?  No,  never. 

On  the  seventh  of  May,  we  Tennesseeans  left  Salisbury 
and  the  exciting  and  smoky  battle  scenes  of  North  Carolina  be- 
hind, and  started  out  on  our  journey  home.  On  the  9th  we 
passed  through  Morganton  late  in  the  evening,  and  bivouaced 
for  the  night  two  miles  beyond.  The  next  morning  we  moved 
put  for  Asheville,  through  which  we  passed  on  the  13th,  and 
camped  a  short  distance  below,  on  the  French  Broad  river  for 
the  night. 

We  reached  Greeneville,  Tennessee,  on  the  15th,  where  we 
remained  a  few  days.  The  nearer  we  got  to  our  homes  now, 
the  more  anxious  the  men  were  to  be  there.  At  Greeneville  we 
had  to  wait  for  transportation,  and  the  boys  became  restless  and 
seemed  lost.  Here  was  another  separation.  Part  of  the  men 
took  the  eastbound  train  for  various  parts  in  upper  East  Ten- 
nessee, while  the  greater  number  continued  westward,  dropping 
off  here  and  there  on  the  way,  as  they  reached  their  respective 
homes,  some  going  on  to  Middle  and  West  Tennessee.  The 
writer  and  Dave  Lovelace  reached  our  home  on  the  18th  day  of 
May. 

"And  hung  our  hat  and  old  gray  coat, 

In  the  closet  on  the  wall 
No  more  to  signal  "Fall  in  boys," 
Nor  rouse  them  by  the  fife's  shrill  call." 

My  home  was  on  Boseberry  Creek,  near  the  railroad,  and 
spanning  the  creek  was  a  high  bridge.  The  next  morning  we 
repaired  to  the  railroad  to  see  some  of  the  men  go  by  who  -,v^ re 
waiting  for  trains  when  we  left  Greeneville.  The  train  was  just 
half  way  over  the  bridge  when  the  trucks  of  one  car  broke  loose 
and  threw  three  cars  of  soldiers  down  an  embankment  thirty 
feet.  Twelve  Confederates  were  killed,  and  several  badly  hurt. 
To-day,twelve  Confederate  soldiers  ended  their  journey  of  life  be- 
fore reaching  home,  and  sleep  on  the  banks  of  Roseberry,  at  my 
old  home.  Sad,  and  from  a  human  standpoint,  hard,  that  these 
young  and  noble,  brave  boys,  who  had  gone  through  the  war, 
should,  just  as  they  were  about  reaching  the  "step-stone"  of 
the  dearest  spot  on  earth  to  them,  go  down  in  this  horrible  wreck. 


THE   LAST   ROLL-CALL.  179 

Yes,  the  war  is  over.  And  through  those  long,  eventful 
four  years  of  danger,  hardships  and  exposures,  the  Old  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee  bravely  fought  her  way,  bore  her  part  in  the 
joys  and  sorrows  of  camp  life,  and  although  but  few  were  left, 
she  came  out  of  the  struggle  as  true  and  as  noble  a  regiment  as 
ever  mustered  on  the  field  of  battle.  Out  of  the  twelve  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  enrolled  in  all,  only  sixty-four  answered  to 
the  last  roll  call.  When  beyond  the  gathering  gloom  of  life's 
fading  years,  when  the  last  "REBEL  SOLDIER"  shall  have  been 
laid  away  in  the  quiet  resting  place  of  the  dead;  succeeding 
generations  will  read  with  pride  the  heroism  of  the  old  "NINE- 
TEENTH TENNESSEE"  Confederate  veterans  of  the  long  ago. 

As  the  "BLUE  AND  GRAY"  fell  side  by  side  on  the  many  gory 
fields,  as  they  lie  side  by  side  in  their  final  resting  places;  so 
their  names  will  be  recorded  side  by  side  in  the  annals  of 
time,  and  the  same  mantle  of  glory  will  cover  them  all. 

"The  echoes  long  have  died  away 

Of  musket's  ring  and  cannon's  roar 

And  ranks  of  bayonets  no  more 

Tell  of  the  furious  battle  day 

When  northern  blue  met  southern  gray." 


\ y  \ 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


This  supplementary  chapter  was  written  by  Col.  C.  W.  Heiskell,  the  last 
Colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  who  commanded  the  regiment  from  the  death 
of  Colonel  Walker  to  the  end  of  the  war.  After  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Col. 
Heiskell  had  charge  of  Strahl's  brigade,  and  there  was  no  change  in  brigade 
and  regimental  officers  until  just  before  the  surrender,  when  a  general  con- 
solidation of  all  the  Tennessee  regiments,  into  four  regiments  was  made. 

W.  J.  W. 

SUPPLEMENTAL. 

^TpHUS  ends  these  chronicles.  This  strange  eventful  history, 
true  as  strange,  and  so  admirably  composed,  has  for  me 
a  wonderful  fascination.  It  is  a  story  of  a  regiment  of 
young  men  made  up  largely  of  the  best  of  Southern  blood. 

That  its  endurance  of  hardship,  its  fortitude  under  most 
difficult  and  trying  ordeals,  and  its  unconquerable  loyalty  to 
the  cause  for  which  it  fought,  shone  more  conspicuously  than 
did  these  qualities  in  other  Confederate  regiments,  I  will  not 
assert.  But  of  its  valor  and  its  fame  I  am  more  than  proud. 

The  one  it  illustrated  on  every  battle  field— the  other  shines 
brightly  in  all  the  chambers  of  thought  and  memory.  And  this 
simple  unvarnished  recital  will  preserve  it  untarnished  for  the 
generations  to  come. 

Looking  backward  through  the  vista  of  forty  years  that 
have  elapsed  since  the  Nineteenth  shouldered  arms,  my  soul  is 
stirred  with  strange  and  unutterable  emotions. 

I  see  the  company's  muster,  the  regiment  organized,  see 
the  daily  drill,  guard  mounting,  breakfast,  dinner,  and  as  the 
westerning  sun  sinks  to  rest,  I  see  the  companies  one  by  one 
take  their  places  on  dress  parade.  What  an  array!  How  in- 
spiring the  music ;  how  magnificent  that  long  and  symmetrical 
line,  a  thousand  men  and  more;  and  with  what  soldierly  bear- 
ing they  march  and  wheel  and  counter-march.  I  listen  again 
to  the  jest  and  laugh,  as  we  sit  and  smoke  and  take  our  rest, 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  181 

• 

around  the  camp  fire,  when  the  days  deeds  are  done.  I  hear 
"taps"  sounded,  and  lights  are  out;  and  silence  reigns;  broken 
save  by  the  tread  or  challenge  of  the  lone  sentinel. 

And  so  camp  life  begins,  punctuated  now  and  again  by 
some  breach  of  discipline  varied  by  the  slaying  of  a  vicious  hog 
or  goose  that  threatens  to  attack  the  Colonel  with  deadly  intent, 
or  by  some  amusing  prank  played  upon  unwary  citizens  visit- 
ing camp.  Here  is  one  with  a  load  of  watermelons.  One  fel- 
low is  buying  a  melon  at  one  end  of  the  wagon  and  two  are 
helping  themselves  at  the  other  end.  Here  is  a  man  making 
complaint  to  John  Webster,  (Co.  K,)  that  the  soldiers  had 
stolen  his  chickens  and  geese  and  ducks.  "And  ducks  too" 
said  John.  "They  ought  to  be  shot— the  idea  of  a  soldier  of 
the  Nineteenth  stealing  ducks"  and  then  a  duck  quacked  under 
John's  coat.  And  so  camp  life  goes  on. 

.  1  see  the  regiment  filing  over  the  Cumberland  mountains 
into  Kentucky,  and  in  camp  at  Cumberland  Ford.  The  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy  is  announced  and  there  is  great  commo- 
tion But  it  would  have  done  you  good  to  see  with  what  alac- 
rity the  men  shouldered  arms  and  marched  out,  as  they  thought, 
to  battle. 

It  was,  however,  an  alarm  to  us.  An  old  "Grinny"  negro, 
a  servant  in  company  A,  was  so  frightened,  that  when  we  re- 
returned  to  camp,  we  found  him  lying  face  down  with  his  head 
sticking  inside  of  his  tent  and  his  feet  outside,  and  these  moved 
up  and  down  as  his  paroxysms  of  fear  came  and  went. 

We  heard  that  a  force  of  Federals  were  assembling  at  Bar- 
boursville,  and  Co.  B  and  K,  of  the  Old  Nineteenth  and  compa- 
nies from  the  Twentieth  Tennessee,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Battle,  were  sent  to  dislodge  them.  Clarke  Brewer,  of  Co.  I, 
now  living  in  Memphis,  slipped  off  and  went  with  us,  We 
marched  all  night,  and  at  daylight  the  next  morning — oh !  how 
tired  and  sleepy  we  were — September  the  19th,  1861,  we  heard 
the  first  hostile  gun  of  the  war.  Here  fell  Robert  Powell,  First 
Lieutenant  of  Co.  K,  a  quiet,  unassuming,  brave  man,  the  first 
Confederate  who  fell  outside  of  Virginia  in  the  war  between  the 
States.  But  the  force  against  us  scattered  and  we  retired  to 
camp. 

The  scarcity  of  salt  was  so  great,  that  the  Nineteenth 
Tennessee,  with  a  great  train  of  wagons,  was  sent  from  Cum- 
berland Ford  to  Goose  Creek  Salt  Works,  for  a  supply.  On 


182  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

• 

this  expedition  the  rain  poured  upon  us  with  such  fury,  that  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  we  made  our  fires  at  night.  And  when 
these  were  made,  without  tents,  we  stood  around  them  through 
the  night,  wet  through  and  through,  to  march  next  day  through 
swollen  streams  and  roads  shoe-mouth  deep  in  mud.  We  got 
the  salt,  and  the  poor  people  along  our  route  had  a  touch  of  war 
from  the  depredations  of  a  few  of  the  undisciplined.  One  fel- 
low got  a  mule  and  an  old  torn  umbrella,  and  astraddle  the 
mule,  without  bridle,  with  umbrella  hoisted,  rode  through  the 
regiment  to  the  amusement  of  all.  Measles,  diarrhoea,  and  all 
the  diseases  camp  life  is  heir  to,  seized  upon  us.  The  hospital 
fills,  and  roll-call  shows  many  absentees. 

And  now  we  are  marching  over  the  mountains  through 
Overton  County,  Tennessee,  and  into  Kentucky,  where  across 
the  Cumberland  river  from  Mill  Springs,  we  fortify  and  build 
cabins  for  winter  quarters.  Thence,  on  January  18th,  1862,  w,e 
make  a  night  march  some  eleven  miles  to  the  battle  and  defeat 
at  Fishing  Creek.  The  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  entered  the 
fight  at  day  dawn  and  began  the  retreat  a  eleven  A.  M.  It  was 
a  fierce  fight.  Here  the  peerless  Zollicoffer  fell.  He  rode 
through  the  Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee  towards  the  enemy.  We 
saw  him — white  gum  overcoat,  white  horse — rush  forward  to 
personally  reconoiter,  and  then  we  saw  him  fall,  and  the  army 
fell  back.  Here  fell  Carroll  Carmack,  Co.  K,  the  witty,  the 
genial,  the  brave  boy,  who,  as  I  knelt  over  him,  called  on  me 
to  pray  for  him,  and  tell  his  mother  how  he  died.  Here  Billy 
Vestal,  of  Co.  E,  twenty  yards  in  advance  of  the  regimental  line 
of  battle,  than  whom  no  braver  man  fought  that  day,  was 
wounded  and  captured.  We  thought  Billy  was  done  for,  but 
in  a  few  days  he  came  into  camp,  having  left  the  enemy's  hos- 
pital and  the  enemy's  lines,  wounded  as  he  was.  Here  the  gal- 
lant Lieutenant  Conley,  of  Co.  B,  gave  up  his  life. 

This  defeat  was  complete,  and  the  remarkable  part  about  it 
was,  that  Thomas  did  not  capture  the  whole  of  us.  But  we  got 
back  to  Camp  Beech  Grove,  and  thence  at  eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  January  19th,  1862,  began  to  cross  the  Cumberland  and 
retreat  towards  Murfreesboro,  to  meet  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnson, 
falling  back  from  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky.  Our  hardships 
on  this  retreat  cannot  be  told.  Without  tents,  without  food, 
many  without  blankets,  on  we  marched  Monday  and  Tuesday, 
On  Wednesday  night  we  had  a  supply  of  corn  meal,  but  no 


COLONEL  C.  W.  HEISKELL. 

Colonel  Heiskell  was  born  ten  miles  west  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  in  Knox 
county,  on  July  the  25th,  1836.  After  graduating,  he  read  and  practiced  law 
at  Rogersville,  Tenn.,  until  the  war  broke  out.  He  entered  the  army  as  a 
private  in  Company  K,  May,  1861.  At  the  organization  of  the  Nineteenth 
Tennessee  regiment,  in  June,  he  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  K.  At  the 
reorganization  of  the  regiment,  in  June,  1862,  he  was  re-elected  Captain  of  the 
company.  After  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  he  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the 
regiment.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  Some 
time  after  the  death  of  Colonel  Moore,  and  before  the  death  of  Colonel  Walker, 
Major  Heiskell  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment,  I  think  in  Jan- 
uary, 1864.  After  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Atlanta  campaign,  and  the 
death  of  Colonel  Walker,  Heiskell  was  promoted  to  Colonel  of  the  regiment. 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  183 

cooking  utensils  and  no  salt,  nothing  but  meal  and  fire  and 
water.  We  made  dough,  and  plastering  this  on  a  board  stood 
it  before  the  fire  and  thus  cooked  it.  The  next  night  flour  ra- 
tions were  issued.  This  we  made  into  dough  and  rolled  into 
long  strings  a  little  larger  than  a  lead  pencil;  these  were  wrap- 
ped around  ram-rods  and  these  stuck  in  the  ground  near  enough 
to  the  fire  to  soon  cook.  And  this  was  all  we  had  to  eat  that 
day.  Next  night,  as  we  lay  on  the  ground,  it  rained  and  snowed, 
and  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  was  awakened  by  the 
cries  of  my  men,  "The  Captain  is  on  fire."  I  lost  no  time  in 
getting  to  my  feet,  and  throwing  off  my  blanket,  a  new  one — a 
treasure — which  burned  to  tatters.  When  we  reached  Murfrees- 
boro  many  of  us  were  sick,  but  those  ready  for  duty  marched 
with  Johnson,  and  on  the  bloody  field  of  Shiloh  fought 
with  conspicuous  bravery,  losing  very  heavily  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

The  regiment  took  part  in  the  capture  of  General  Prentice 
and  his  men;  in  fact,  the  General  surrendered  his  sword  to 
Lieut. -Col.  F.  M.  Walker,  who  then  commanded  the  regiment, 
Colonel  Cummings  having  left  the  field  wounded,  before  this 
capture. 

Here  the  Confederacy  was  lost  through  the  incompetency 
of  Beauregard.  When  the  first  day  was  drawing  to  a  close  and 
Grant  was  routed  at  every  point,  when  the  order  was  issued, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  being  executed,  to  charge  the  enemy, 
Beauregard  countermanded  the  order.  Had  he  not  done  so, 
that  Federal  army  would  have  surrendered  without  doubt. 
Gov.  Harris,  in  whose  arms  Gen.  Johnson  fell,  when  shot,  told 
me  that  he  was  so  overwhelmed  with  astonishment  and  grief  at 
Beauregard' s  order,  that  he  rushed  to  him  and  implored  him 
to  withdraw  the  order  and  let  the  charge  be  made,  and  that  sur- 
render was  sure.  But  no.  It  was  not  to  be.  The  Governor 
told  me  also  that  after  the  war,  Beauregard  applied  to  him  to 
write  him  a  vindication  of  his  conduct  of  that  battle  after  John- 
son fell;  but  that  he  said  to  Beauregard  he  could  not  do  it. 

There  fell  in  this  battle  killed  and  wounded  some  of  our 
best  and  bravest  men.  (See  page  45.) 

In  the  camp  at  Corinth  the  term  of  our  enlistment  expired. 
The  reorganization  of  the  regiment  was  a  remarkable  display 
of  pluck  and  patriotism.  So  few  were  the  malcontents.  The 
regiment  was  in  the  great  battle  where  Gen.  Pope  (what  a 


184  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

sturdy  liar  Pope  was)  captured  20,000  of  us.  The  fact  is  he 
did  not  capture  20  of  us.  At  least  we  did  not  know  it  if  he  did. 
The  night  before  this  engagement,  it  was  really  only  a  recon- 
noisance  in  force,  I  dreamed  I  met  my  brother  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Federal  army  face  to  face  in  battle.  After  the  war 
we  met,  and  I  told  him  of  the  dream.  "Why,"  he  said,  "I 
was  in  that  engagement."  And  indeed  we  were,  no  doubt,  not 
500  yards  apart  in  the  fight. 

From  Corinth  the  Nineteenth  went  into  the  swamps  to  guard 
our  only  line  of  railroad  communication.  In  the  swamps  in  rain 
and  mud  with  no  place  to  sit  down,  we  remained  for  some  time. 
I  recollect  that  I  squatted  under  a  temporary  brush  arbor  and 
with  the  rain  pattering  down,  read  "Jane  Eyre"  until  my  posi- 
tion became  unbearable  and  then  I  would  stand  and  read 
awhile. 

Thence  under  Gen.  Breckenridge  we  went  to  Vicksburg 
(June  1862,)  and  on  July  4th,  1862,  we,  with  the  15th  Mississip- 
pi, were  ordered  into  a  swamp  some  four  miles  below  Vicks- 
burg, where  it  was  reported  the  Federals  had  made  a  landing. 
This  was  an  exceedingly  trying  inarch.  We  waded  through 
the  swamp  for  more  than  a  mile  with  the  mud  some  times  up 
to  our  knees,  and  when  we  got  through  and  stood  upon  the 
levee  of  the  Mississippi,  a  gunboat  200  yards  below  us,  at  the 
river  bank  commenced  a  fusilade  upon  us.  To  save  ourselves 
we  double  quicked  down  towards  the  boat  where  we  got  so  near 
to  it — not  more  than  150  feet — that  it  could  not  depress  its  guns 
low  enough  to  strike  us.  Everybody  was  ordered  to  lie  down. 
Volunteers  were  then  called  for,  to  go  onward  and  recounoiter. 
Lieut.  W.  W.  Etter,  (Co.  K,)  whose  courage  was  always  con- 
spicuous, jumped  to  his  feet  and  said,  "Colonel  I  will  go."  The 
Colonel  replied,  "Lieut.  I  want  privates  riotofficers  for  this  duty." 
"Well,"  said  the  Lieut,  "consider  me  a  private  for  this  occa- 
sion." So  he  with  others — for  the  volunteers  were  more  than 
were  wanted— reconnoitered.  But  while  doing  so  the  gunboat 
moved  off. 

We  stayed  for  weeks  at  Vicksburg  plagued  by  mosquitoes, 
chills  and  fevers  and  shells  from  the  Federal  Gunboats.  How 
our  ranks  were  decimated.  To  see  that  magnificent  body  of 
high  spirited  young  men,  dwindle  to  a  tithe  of  its  former  num- 
ber, and  those  on  duty  mere  shadows  of  their  former  selves, 
Oh!  it  was  pitiful.  But  when  the  order  came  to  go  to  Baton 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  185 

Rouge  the  regiment  was  ready.  Sick  as  it  was.  Lieut.  Etter, 
(Co.  K,)  went  through  the  battle  at  Baton  Rouge  with  a  chill 
on  him.  Lieut.  Nail  (Co.  A,)  was  desperately  wounded,  in 
this  fight,  Thomas  Wright,  and  Lieut.  J.  M.  Sims;  Emmet 
White  was  killed. 

After  this  battle  the  men  under  Gen.  Breckenridge  were  in 
such  miserable  plight  that  they  were  put  in  camp  near  Jackson, 
Miss,  to  recuperate.  Before  this,  however,  Gen.  Breckenridge 
in  token  of  the  high  appreciation  of  The  Nineteenth's  services, 
by  order  read  at  dress  parade — ordered  as  an  especial  honor — 
that  Fishing  Creek,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg,  and  Baton  Rouge  be 
inscribed  on  our  battle  flag.  While  in  sick  camp  at  Jackson 
the  regiment  was  paid  oft'  for  the  first  time  in  eleven  months, 
$66.00  a  piece  to  each  private. 

Jake  Williford,  (Co.  K,)  a  good  and  faithful  soldier  had  a 
chuck-a-luck  board.  The  regiment  was  paid  off  about  a  mile 
from  camp.  The  money  was  in  sheets,  a  dozen  or  more  bills 
printed  on  a  sheet  of  paper.  Some  of  the  boys  gambled  away 
their  whole  six  months  pay  before  they  reached  camp  at  Jake's 
chuck-a-luck  game. 

Several  of  the  men  died  here  and  these  are  buried  in 
the  cemetery  at  Jackson,  Miss.  Among  them  are  J.  B.  Erwin, 
Co.  F.  S.  W.  Riley,  Co.  I,  and  S.  M.  Jenkins,  Co.  F. 

Our  next  battle  was  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  where  Bragg, 
after  whipping  the  enemy  failed  to  push  the  victory.  It  was  a 
bloody  battle.  Maj.  Jarnagin,  a  gallant  and  much  beloved 
officer  fell  here.  Here  fell  also 

(See  page  74  and  75.) 

We  spent  the  winter  and  spring  in  front  of  Shelbyville. 
And  from  here  marched  to  Chattanooga. 

The  regiment  during  the  winter  and  spring  was  the  advance 
pickets  of  the  army  eight  miles  towards  Nashville — from  Shel- 
by ville.  Here  I  was  promoted  to  be  major  of  the  Regiment. 

One  of  my  old  Co. — a  conscript — was  condemned  to  be 
shot  for  desertion.  I  interceded  for  him  with  Gen.  Polk,  who 
<rav<'  nie  little  encouragement.  But  just  as  the  file  of  soldiers 
were  receiving  the  order  to  fire  on  him,  a  courier  dashed  up 
with  a  pardon.  That  night  the  poor  fellow  deserted,  and  we 
never  caught  him,  of  which  I  was  truly  glad;  for  if  we  had,  he 
would  have  been  shown  no  mercy.  The  regiment  was  largely 
recruited  here  but  the  recruits  were  not  generally  of  the  fine 


186  THE   OLD  NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

material  of  the  original  enlistment.  Yet  after  drilling  and  dis- 
cipline for  several  months  we  had  a  fine  regiment  when  we 
started  towards  Chattanooga  and  the  battle  of  Chicamauga. 

On  this  march  when  we  reached  Tullahoma  we  formed  line 
of  battle  and  I  really  thought  we  were  to  fight  there ;  but  after 
hot  skirmishing,  about  midnight  our  march  was  renewed.  I 
recollect  how  easy  it  was  to  keep  awake  through  the  night, 
until  the  near  approach  of  day,  when  the  desire  to  sleep  was  so 
strong  upon  me,  that  I  slept  as  I  rode  along,  and  was  awakened 
by  my  horse  stopping  to  drink  as  we  crossed  a  creek. 

Reaching  Chattanooga  we  built  fortifications  in  diverse 
positions  and  when  we  left  Chattanooga  for  the  battle  field  of 
Chicamauga  had  an  army  ready  and  eager  to  fight. 

An  incident  occurred  at  Chattanooga  worthy  of  relating. 
On  the  21st  day  of  August,  1863,  Dr.  B.  M.  Palmer,  of  New 
Orleans,  was  to  preach.  _  While  he  was  praying  his  opening 
prayer,  the  enemy  fired  upon  the  city.  People  arose  in 
haste  and  left  the  church.  But  the  Doctor  never  stopped 
praying,  nor  did  he  exhibit  the  least  nervousness.  When 
he  got  through,  I  think  he  and  I,  and  probably  one  or  two 
others,  were  the  only  people  left  in  the  church.  One  of  the 
enemy's  shots  struck  a  little  girl  and  broke  her  leg.  Her  peo- 
ple carried  her  out  of  the  city,  and  stopping  at  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Moore's  father's  house,  near  where  General  Preston 
Smith's  brigade  was  camped,  asked  for  admittance.  The 
family  were  overwhelmed  with  visitors  and  friends  fleeing  from 
Chattanooga,  and  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  take  the  child 
in.  And  so  Mr.  Moore  refused.  General  Smith  heard  the  re- 
fusal, and  not  knowing  the  circunstances,  denounced  the  old 
gentleman  very  bitterly.  Colonel  Moore,  hearing  of  it,  wrote 
General  Smith  a  letter,  in  which  he  stated  that  while  General 
Smith  was  his  superior  officer,  he  wanted  him  to  understand 
distinctly  that  he  regarded  his  conduct  towards  his  old  father 
as  that  of  a  bully  and  a  coward,  and  he  could  make  the  most  of 
it.  He  went  on  then  to  give  the  reason  for  his  denunciation  of 
the  General ,  showing  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have 
done  otherwise  than  his  father  did.  The  next  morning,  Colonel 
Moore  came  to  my  tent  and  said,  "Major,  General  Smith,  and 
one  of  his  staff,  will  be  here  in  a  few  minutes  about  this  matter 
and  I  want  you  to  be  present."  I  told  him  certainly.  Soon 
they  came.  And  General  Smith,  in  the  most  ample  manner, 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  187 

apologized  and  expressed  his  deep  sorrow  for  what  had  occurred, 
and  then  asked  Colonel  Moore  if  that  was  sufficient!  Colonel 
Moore  turned  to  me  and  said,  "Major,  what  do  you  think  of 
it?"  I  said,  "Colonel,  the  apology  is  so  ample  that  you  ought 
to  accept  it."  He  turned  to  General  Smith,  and  said  to  him, 
"Say  it  over  again,  General,"  which  he  did.  And  then  Moore 
remarked,  "As  Major  Heiskell  says  your  apology  is  sufficient, 
I  will  accept  it."  I  told  him,  I  thought  it  was  thoroughly 
satisfactory.  And  so  the  incident  closed. 

Rosecrans  thought  Bragg  was  in  haste  to  retreat  and  had 
no  intention  of  fighting.  So  he  divided  his  army  into  three 
divisions  of  20,000  each.  One  he  sent  forward  to  head  off 
Bragg;  another  to  strike  him  in  the  flank,  and  the  other  he  had 
in  Bragg' s  rear,  as  he  supposed.  These  three  divisions  were 
twenty  miles  apart.  Bragg  was  informed  of  this  state  of  things, 
and  indeed  sent  General  Hindman  to  fight  the  advance  of  Rose- 
crans' army,  in  McLernore's  Cove.  But  for  some  unaccount 
able  reason,  without  blame  fixed  upon  any  one,  the  enemy  were 
allowed  to  escape.  Instead  of  Bragg  falling  upon  these  three 
corps  and  destroying  them  in  detail,  he  waited  until  Rosecrans 
corrected  his  stupid  blunder  and  consolidated  his  60,000  men  in 
one  compact  army.  Then  Bragg  fought  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga.  The  Sunday  before  the  battle  of  Chicarnauga,  I,  in 
command  of  the  Nineteenth,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  was  sent 
out  in  front  of  the  army  to  draw  the  enemy  on  to  attack.  When 
some  mile  or  more  in  front  of  our  line  of  battle,  skirmish- 
ing began.  This  continued  in  intensity  until  from  the  right  it 
was  reported  that  the  enemy  was  in  such  force,  that  I  ordered 
the  right  to  fall  back  slowly.  Then  from  the  center  I  heard  the 
enemy's  cannon  stop  and  unlimber.  I  heard  the  command  to 
load  and  fire.  My  line  being  hotly  pressed  along  its  whole  front 
I  ordered  it  to  fall  back.  This  we  did  across  an  open  field  for 
over  a  half  a  mile,  with  the  bullets  flying  most  uncomfortably 
near.  But  the  enemy  did  not  attack,  and  s*o  the  day  of  battle 
was  delayed  and  the  place  changed  to  Chickamauga,  Georgia. 

This  was  a  battle  royal  between  60,000  brave  men  of  the 
Northwest  and  60,000  brave  men  of  the  South  Its  boom  of 
cannon,  its  storm  of  musketry,  charge  and  counter  charge, 
couriers  rushing  hither  and  yon,  men  falling  thick  and  fast,  the 
groan,  the  death-rattle,  the  wounded  borne  from  the  field — many 
killed  or  dying  on  the  stretchers  before  the  line  of  death  hail  was 


188  THE   OLD    NINETEENTH    TENNESSEE. 

passed — but  on,  and  still  backward  the  enemy  was  pressed  to 
the  foot  of  Snodgrass  Hill — there  the  Nineteenth  halted.  Here 
were  all  the  vicissitudes  of  war — the  horrors  of  battle,  and  the 
glory  of  victory.  It  was  a  proud  day;  it  was  a  sad  day.  The 
glory  of  victory  filled  us  all  with  exultant  joy.  But  Oh!  the 
purchase  price  of  it.  The  roll-call  of  the  dead. 

Lackey  and  Looney,  (See  page  94.) 

All  good  men  and  true.  All  soldiers  without  reproach, 
and  brave  with  all  that  word  implies.  The  list  of  the  wounded 
was  much  greater.  Among  these  was  Capt.  S.  J.  A.  Frazier, 
now  at  Hill  City,  Tennessee,  so  desperately  that  he  was  cap- 
tured, having  been  left  on  the  field  for  dead.  He  never  faltered 
in  duty,  whether  in  camp  or  march,  or  battle.  I  also  was 
wounded.  As  I  was  leaving  the  field,  I  turned  to  view  the  fight. 
The  regiment  was  then  moving  by  the  right  flank  under  a  fierce 
fire.  There  was  Colonel  Walker,  cool  and  alert;  there  was 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Moore,  with  his  sword  pointing  toward  the 
enemy  and  horse,  careering.  I  saw  Moore  fall  from  his  horse 
and  I  thought  he  was  gone,  till  I  saw  him  light  on  his  feet  and 
spring  to  the  head  of  the  regiment.  And  the  men — they  marched 
erect — soldiers  every  one.  Indeed,  it  was  a  gallant  sight. 

I  quote  here  from  General  Strahl's  report : 

"Most  of  the  field  officers  on  my  right  were  dismounted  by 
having  their  horses  shot  from  under  them  and  Maj.  Heiskell  of 
the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  a  very  gallant  officer  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  foot." 

"During  this  short  encounter  with  the  enemy,  (this  was  on 
the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  the  battle)  "the  Nineteenth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment  was  on  my  right  and  was  therefore,  much 
more  exposed  and  consequently  met  with  a  much  heavier  loss 
than  any  other  in  the  brigade.  But  its  field  officers— Col.  F.  M. 
Walker  and  Lieut. -Col.  Beriah  F.  Moore  acted  with  such  cool- 
ness and  gallantry  that  they  inspired  their  men  with  courage 
and  confidence.  "The  company  and  field  officers  as  a 
general  thing,  conducted  themselves  with  great  gallantry  and 
coolness,  and  discharged  their  duties  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
reflect  much  credit  upon  themselves  and  their  commands. 

"The  private  in  the  ranks  as  usual,  displayed  that  noble 
courage  for  which  Southern  soldiers  have  ever  been  distin- 
guished." But  what  availed  it?  With  a  triumphantly  victor- 
ious army,  with  the  enemy  seeking  refuge  in  Chattanooga  and 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  189 

dreading  our  advance,  Bragg  waited  until  too  late  and  then 
occupied  Missionary  Ridge.  There  he  sat  down  and  waited; 
waited  until  Grant  caine  with  legions  of  Federals  to  drive 
him  from  his  great  coigne  of  vantage,  and  rob  him  of  all  fruits 
of  his  victory  and  more.  In  the  fight  of  Missionary  Ridge  fell 
Lieut. -Col.  Beriah  F.  Moofe  in  sight  of  his  father's  house,  than 
whom  no  more  courageous  spirit  ever  entered  the  Halls  of  Val- 
halla. Ah!  the  pity  of  the  brave,  who  fell  on  that  bloody  field 
of  Chicamauga — and  for  naught. 

Surely  the  day  will  come  when  Tennessee,  whose  sons 
comprised  40  per  cent  of  the  60,000  soldiers  who  fought  on  the 
Confederate  side  in  that  world  renowned  battle,  will  erect  a 
grand  and  enduring  monument.  "To  the  private  soldiers  of 
the  Army  of  Tennessee  whose  deeds  of  high  emprise  upon  this 
field  of  battle,  added  eternal  glory  to  the  fair  name  of  the  Vol- 
unteer State." 

Then  began  the  reorganization  and  revitalization  of  the 
army  under  Gen.  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  a  great  soldier,  of  whom 
Gen.  Sherman  said  when  Davis  removed  him  "That  is  worth 
20,000  men  to  me.  On  Johnston's  retreat  from  Dalton  to  Atlan- 
ta he  never  lost  a  canteen  and  I  never  attempted  a  movement 
that  Johnston  had  not  anticipated."*  Johnston's  only  fault, 
a  great  one  too,  was  that  he  did  not  fight  Sherman  on  that 
retreat. 

The  Nineteenth  on  this  retreat  covered  herself  with  glory. 
Fighting  and  marching  almost  every  hour  of  the  day  and  night, 
their  uncomplaining  fortitude  under  all  the  hard  conditions  of 
short  ration,  scanty  clothing,  constant  duty  under  almost  con- 
tinual fire,  their  unflinching  courage,  chivalric  bearing  and- 
deeds  of  daring,  notably  at  Dead  Anglet  where  the  struggle  with 


*NoTE.  This  was  told  me  in  haec  verba  by  Capt.  Harry  Lee  of  the  Fed- 
eral Array,  after  the  war,  who  said  he  heard  Gen.  Sherman  make  the  remark. 

tNoTE.  I  here  give  the  position  of  the  Nineteenth  at  that  fight.  It  was 
then  temporarily  in  Maney's  Brigade,  which  was  commanded  by  Col.  F.  M. 
Walker. 


190  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

the  advancing  foe  was  so  fierce  and  close,  that  the  boys  clubbed 
their  guns  and  beat  off  the  enemy  or  struck  them  down  with 
stones,  entitles  her  to  immortal  honor,  and  makes  her  history  a 
part  of  the  Glory  of  America.  And  to  think  that  Johnston 
should  be  removed  when  he  would  have  delivered  battle  of  July 
18th  as  Sherman  was  crossing  the  Chattahoocha  instead  of  on 
the  22nd,  when  it  was  too  late.  In  this  fight,  July  22nd,  the 
Nineteenth  marched  in  line  of  battle  up  a  line  of  earthworks  of 
the  Federals  and  slaughtered  them  in  heaps — until  they  came 
to  another  line  of  works  striking  these  at  right  angles.  Here 
fell  that  peerless  soldier  and  true  gentleman,  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Frances  Marion  Walker,  Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth.  His 
commission  as  Brigadier  General  reached  the  army  after  his 
death.  And  here  too  fell  many  a  private  brave  as  he. 

I  came  to  the  regiment  on  crutches  just  after  Johnston's  re- 
moval and  the  devotion  of  the  troops  to  him  was  evidenced  by 
the  fact  that  as  we  sat  around  the  camp-fire  they  would  speak 
in  the  highest  terms  of  their  commander  and  weep  when  they 
told  me  of  his  leaving  them.  I  had  lost  my  horse  during  my 
long  absence ;  and  when  the  retreat  from  Atlanta  began  I  was 
told  to  get  on  the  train  and  leave  that  way,  as  I  could  not  pro- 
ceed on  foot.  When  the  train  got  four  or  five  miles  from  At- 
lanta, it  was  fired  into  by  the  enemy  and  it  returned  to  Atlanta. 
And  there  I  was  on  three  legs,  my  command — the  whole  Con- 
federate army  gone — and  the  Federal  army  approaching. 

In  this  extremity,  I  paid  a  negro  a  silver  dollar,  the  only 
money  I  had,  to  get  me  a  horse  from  Capt.  Winston,  a  friend 
of  mine,  and  on  this  horse  I  left  Atlanta  late  in  the  evening. 
As  the  shadows  of  night  gathered  in,  I  saw  the  grand  fire-works 
of  the  comsuming  ordnance  supplies  burned  to  keep  them  from 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands.  The  pyrotechnics  were  fearful 
in  grandeur.  The  lurid  glare  of  licking  flames,  the  mighty 
boom  of  bursting  shells,  broke  upon  the  gloomy  desolation  and 
oppressed  the  soul  with  awe  and  sadness. 

The  campaign  of  Hood  in  Tennessee,  the  awful  slaughter  of 
Franklin  and  the  terrible  retreat  from  Nashville,  signalized 
again  the  dauntless  courage  and  invaluable  services  of  the  old 
regiment.  At  Franklin,  Arthur  Fulkerson,  a  gallant  boy,  fell 
pierced  with  sixteen  bullets.  He  was  then  Sergeant-Major  of  the 
regiment.  Wm.  Phipps  and  Wm.  Hipshire  were  both  wounded 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  191 

for  the  first  time  in  the  war,  and  they  both  fought  with  con- 
spicuous bravery  in  every  battle  the  regiment  was  in,  from 
the  beginning,  to  the  end  of  the  war.  All  this  has  been  often 
told,  and  no  where  better  than  in  these  chronicles. 

One  incident  of  the  retreat  which  I  have  never  seen  in 
print  was  this :  When  the  line  of  infantry,  under  Cheatham, 
came  to  Duck  river  from  towards  Nashville  on  their  retreat, 
Forrest's  cavalry,  coming  on  a  different  road,  met  the  infantry 
column  right  at  the  pontoon  bridge.  General  Cheatham  was  at 
the  head  of  his  division  and  General  Forrest  at  the  head  of  his. 
Cheatham  insisted  that  he  should  cross  and  Forrest  insisted 
that  he  should  cross.  High  and  angry  words  ensued.  I 
could  hear  the  click  of  the  muskets  all  along  the  line  of  my  reg- 
iment, which  was  in  front.  The  declaration  was  freely  made 
by  the  men,  that  they  would  defend  old  Frank  and  shoot  For- 
rest's cavalry  into  the  middle  of  Duck  river  in  a  minute,  if  the 
worst  came  to  the  worst.  But  like  a  brave  man  Forrest  gave 
way  and  the  two  apologized  for  their  hot  words,  and  Cheatham 
crossed;  and  Forrest  followed. 

An  incident  of  Forrest's  rear  guard,  personally  witnessed, 
was  this :  Forrest  had  said  to  Hood  that  he  thought  he  could  keep 
the  enemy  on  the  Nashville  side  of  Duck  river  until  Christ- 
mas. Through  the  fault  or  misfortune  of  a  lieutenant,  the  enemy 
crossed  and  we  had  to  leave  Columbia.  As  we  halted  a  few 
minutes  just  outside  of  the  town,  this  lieutenant,  came  meeting 
us,  crying  in  an  excited  voice,  "Where  is  General  Forrest?" 
Just  then  Forrest  rode  up  and  what  he  said  to  the  lieutenant 
would  not  grace  a  Sunday-school  book. 

The  behavior  of  the  men  on  this  retreat  could  not  have  been 
finer.  The  weather  was  bitter  cold  while  at  Columbia.  The 
frozen  snow,  swept  by  the  north  wind,  made  it  impossible  for 
us,  without  tents  and  a  very  scant  supply  of  blankets,  to  get 
warm  and  keep  warm.  Our  retreat  was  not  only  burdened  with 
the  gloom  of  defeat,  but  it  was  through  slush  and  wet,  and  imi- 
nent  peril  of  attack  by  the  oncoming  victors. 

Many  of  the  men  were  bare-footed  and  many  hatless,  yet 
there  was  no  emergency  in  all  that  masterly  retreat  that  they 
failed  to  meet,  and  no  duty  required,  that  they  did  not  perform 
with  alacrity,  daring  and  efficiency. 

When  the  fight  at  Anthony's  Hill  was  approaching,  the 
Nineteenth  was  three  miles  in  advance.  We  returned  to  the 


192  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE 

fight  at  a  double  quick.  I  stood  near  Forrest  as  two  pieces  of 
captured  cannon,  horses,  everything  complete,  were  driven  past 
him.  And  for  the  first  time  I  realized  the  force  of  the  expres- 
sion, "his  eyes  flashed  fire."  The  fervor  of  the  battle — gaudia 
et  gloria  certaminis — energied  every  fiber  of  his  being;  and 
amidst  the  clearing  smoke  of  the  contest,  and  shouts  of  victory, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  real  fire  flashed  from  his  eyes.  He  sat  on 
his  horse  the  very  Grod  of  War. 

The  next  morning  we  fought  again.  I  commanded  the  bri- 
gade. I  had  been  on  leave  for  twelve  months  with  a  bullet 
through  my  foot,  and  was  then  limping  along — and  I  think  I 
was  the  only  scared  man  in  the  brigade. 

Fighting  was  almost  new  to  me,  but  to  the  men — well,  they 
seemed  to  enjoy  it.  The  alacrity  with  which  that  half-starved, 
half -clad  remnant  of  Strahl's  proud  brigade  shouted  and  sprang 
to  the  charge  and  swept  the  Federal  cavalry  from  the  field,  was 
a  wonderful  feat  of  arms.  I  think  it  was  the  most  gallant  sight 
I  witnessed  during  the  whole  war.  Jim  Stephenson,  Company 
E,  was  so  sick,  that  when  we  started  into  line  of  battle,  I  told 
him  to  go  on  with  the  wagon  train  as  he  was  too  sick  to  carry  a 
gun.  But  when  the  fight  was  over  there  stood  Stevenson.  I 
asked  him  with  some  heat  why  he  did  not  do  as  I  commanded. 
"Oh!"  he  said,  "Colonel,  I  wanted  to  see  the  fight."  He  had 
actually  gone  through  the  engagement  simply  to  look  on. 

Orders  were  strict  against  "foraging."  William  Phipps 
and  James  Havely  fell  in  with  a  vicious  turkey  gobbler,  which 
after  a  great  strategy  they  captured.  In  doing  so,  one  of  them 
dropped  a  note-book  with  his  name  in  it.  They  came  to  me  in 
great  trouble,  fearing  the  book  would  be  found  and  they  be 
punished.  But  the  book  was  never  found.  When  we  reached 
camp  that  night  the  gobbler  was  anchored  so  that  he  could  do 
no  harm,  and  as  we  halted  several  days  the  boys  stuffed  that 
turkey  with  dough  and  corn — putting  these  down  his  throat  with 
a  stick.  And  when  they  killed  and  cooked  him,  I  was  invited 
to  help  eat  him.  It  was  the  fattest  fowl  I  ever  ate.  Solomon 
says,  "Stolen  waters  are  sweet."  Had  he  dined  with  us  that 
day  he  would  have  added  to  the  proverb,  "and  so  is  stolen  tur- 
key, if  fattened  on  corn  and  dough." 

And  now  the  end  of  the  Confederacy  draws  near. 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  193 

General  Johnston  resumes  command,  and  the  men  march 
with  prouder  step.  The  army  is  hastening  through  Missis- 
sippi, Alabama,  and  South  Carolina.  When  we  reached  the 
pine  woods  of  North  Carolina,  for  a  few  days'  rest,  the  whole 
army  was  nervous.  At  night  the  men  gathered  and  marched 
from  one  General's  headquarters  to  another,  calling  for  speeches. 
Bates,  and  Brown,  and  many  others,  spoke.  Cheat-ham  would 
dodge  when  his  men  came  for  him.  But  one  evening  they  sur- 
rounded his  tent — no  one  under  a  Brigadier  then  had  a  tent — 
and  called  on  him  for  a  speech.  He  came  out  greatly  embar- 
rassed, and  said,  "Boys,  I  have  gained  great  reputation  as  a 
fighter,  but  the  credit  belongs  to  you,  not  to  me."  And  then 

you  could  hear  all  around  you,  "D n  if  old  Frank  can't  beat 

'em  all  speaking." 

"We  have  been  in  many  tight  places,  but  none  where  you  ever 
failed  me  or  failed  your  country.  How  many  brave  men  have 
fallen,  your  decimated  ranks  attest."  And  the  General's  eyes 
filled;  and  the  tears  ran  down  the  faces  of  his  veterans. 

This  was  his  speech. 

There  came  to  us  here,  one  of  the  Generals  from  Charles- 
ton, I  think  Sibley  was  his  name,  who  was  very  short  of  stat- 
ure, and  very  fat.  The  men  at  once  dubbed  him  But  Cut — in 
allusion  to  his  resemblance  to  the  first  cut  of  a  fallen  tree.  As 
General  Sibley  would  ride  through  the  regiment  he  was  hailed 
with  "Good  morning  Gen.  But  Cut"  or  "Here  goes  But  Cut."  To 
the  honor  of  the  General,  be  it  said,  he  did  not  show  temper,  but 
smiled  pleasantly,  and  enjoyed  the  joke. 

Soon  we  are  hastening  to  the  last  battle  of  the  war — Ben- 
tonville.  As  we  marched  past  Gen.  Johnson's  headquarters,  a 
joyous  yell  was  heard  along  the  whole  line.  The  firing  is  hot 
in  front.  The  enemy  had  almost  surrounded  us  having  forced 
our  line  in  the  form  of  a  horse  shoe,  leaving  only  the  open  end 
of  the  shoe  unguarded.  To  close  this  opening  was  attempted. 
And  here  that  accomplished  soldier  and  great  Captain  W.  H. 
Hardee,  in  person,  at  the  head  of  a  Texas  brigade  of  Cavalry, 
charged  the  line  of  Federal  infantry  and  drove  them  back,  when 
the  Nineteenth  with  others,  double  quicked  to  prevent  a  reoc- 
cupation.  The  retreat  of  the  foe  was  so  precipitate  that  they 
left  all  of  their  picks  and  shovels,  of  which  we  took  possession, 
and  at  once  threw  up  earth  works. 


194  THE   OLD   NINETEENTH   TENNESSEE. 

That  night,  however,  we  moved  out,  and  the  next  day  came 
the  news  of  Lee's  surrender.  This,  with  the  assassination  of 
Lincoln,  filled  our  hearts  with  sorrow.  Soon  the  surrender 
came.  Sixty-four  men,  yes,  and  what  men!  remnant  of  the 
glorious  Nineteenth  of  '61,  lined  up  for  the  last  time,  and  with 
tears  of  sorrow,  furled  forever  the  tattered  flag,  which  they  had 
so  bravely  borne  through  so  many  battles. 

Just  here,  permit  me  to  say  a  word  in  justice  to  our  faith- 
ful field  band,  and  our  chief  musician,  W.  J.  Worsham,  the 
author  of  this  book.  He  called  the  men  into  line  at  the  first 
roll-call,  and  he  called  the  men  to  every  duty,  and  to  battle, 
during  the  eventful  four  years  of  the  war.  He  never  failed  to 
call  them  at  the  very  moment  wanted,  but  one  time ;  then  the 
men  were  tired  and  weary  after  a  long  day's  march,  and  until 
ten  o'clock  at  night,  before  a  halt  was  made.  The  Colonel  gave 
him  orders  to  call  the  regiment  promptly  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  but  he  did  not  make  the  call  until  three-thirty. 
Remarkable  promptness  for  four  years  service. 

Let  us  call  over  the  list  of  battles:  Barboursville,  Wild 
Cat,  Fishing  Creek,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg,  Baton  Rouge,  Murfrees- 
borough,  Chicamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Rocky  Face,  Resaca, 
Adairsville,  Cartersville,  New  Hope  Church,  Dallas,  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Lovejoy  Station,  Jones- 
boro,  Altoona,  Dalton,  Spring  Hill,  Franklin,  Nashville, 
Anthony's  Hill,  Sugar  Creek,  Bentonville,  in  every  one  of 
which,  it  illustrated  the  alertness,  and  steady  courage  of  South- 
ern manhood,  the  proud  independence  and  dash  of  men  who 
fought  for  the  constitution  of  their  fathers,  as  written  and  in- 
terpreted by  the  highest  judicature  of  government  they  estab- 
lished, from  the  days  of  '76,  to  the  beginning  of  the  war  between 
the  states;  and  with  a  devotion  and  magnificent  ELAN  never 
excelled,  if  ever  equalled,  in  the  annals  of  war — 600,000 
men  against  1,827,980  from  the  North  and  West— 600,000 
against  454,415  (counting  the  negro  soldiers)  from  the  South 
itself,  600,000  against  2,778,304.* 

And  yet,  for  four  years,  these  sons  of  a  proud  ancestry,  of 
Revolutionary  sires — fought  all  these  mighty  hosts  to  maintain 
the  government  of  the  fathers  of  the  Republic  fought  with 


*NoTE. — These  figures  are  taken  from  the  United  States  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral's office  of  date  July  6th,  1865. 


SUPPLEMENTARY.  195 

matchless  valor  and  victory,  until  worn  to  fragments.  And  is 
it  to  be  said,  that  these  men  were  rebels  against  the  govern- 
ment of  the  heroes  of  '76?  This  will  not  be  the  verdict  of 
history.  On  the  contrary,  that  verdict  will  be,  that  the  South 
fought  to  maintain  the  government  and  uphold  the  Constitu- 
tion of  '76,  and  those  who  fought  to  change  that  government, 
and  did  change  it,  these  were  the  -  — .  But  the  war  is 
over.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  float  unchallenged  from  Caribou 
to  Key  West;  and  from  Cape  Cod  to  the  Golden  Grate; 
and  all  of  us  rejoice  in  it.  We  glory  in  the  peace,  pros- 
perity, and  happiness  we  enjoy  under  its  ample  folds. 
None  will  quicker,  and  with  more  loving  devotion,  spring 
to  its  defense,  if  attacked,  than  the  sons  of  those  who  fought 
and  fell  for  the  South. 

The  war  is  over  in  the  hearts  of  all  the  people,  North  and 
South,  East  and  West. 

It  is  a  matter  for  congratulation  that  the  survivors  of  this 
600,000,  returning  to  the  peaceful  walks  of  life,  have  illustrated 
their  sterling  qualities  in  all  the  avenues  of  civic  life  and  duty. 
They  all  went  to  work  to  rehabilitate  their  country,  made  deso- 
late by  the  awful  destructions  and  wreck  of  war.  They  taught 
their  children  to  love  their  country,  and  they,  and  their  child- 
ren, on  all  occasions  have  heretofore  acted  well  their  part  as 
citizens  and  soldiers  of  the  great  Republic — ample  pledge,  if 
pledge  were  needed— that  for  the  future,  they  will  exemplify 
the  highest  type  of  good  citizenship. 

Tennessee  can  point  with  special  pride  to  her  Confederate 
soldiers.  None  braver  than  her  sons  ever  marched  to  battle. 
She  had  110,000  men  in  the  Confederate  Army,  nearly  one-fifth 
of  the  whole  Confederate  Army.  And  in  the  battle  of  Chica- 
mauga,  one  of  the  greatest  battles  of  history,  she  had,  I  think 
the  record  shows,  58  regiments  and  battalions.  And  she  will 
always  cherish  with  just  pride,  the  memory  of  their  heroic  con- 
duct— their  courage,  and  their  high  achievements.  But  she 
recognizes  that  peace  has  come,  and  that  her  destiny,  is  with 
the  future,  not  with  the  past.  She  echoes  the  sentiment: 

"Fold  up  the  banner,  smelt  the  guns, 
Love  rules,  her  gentle  purpose  runs, 
A  mighty  mother  turns  in  tears, 
The  pages  of  her  battle  years, 
Lamenting  all  her  fallen  sons.'' 


196  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE. 

She  points  with  pride  to  the  deeds  of  those  who  have  shown 
themselves  worthy  sons  of  this  indestructible  State  of  our 
indissoluble  Union.  Thus  far  only,  Tennessee  lingers  in  the 
past — proud  of  her  heroic  dead.  She  would  garner  their  glori- 
ous deeds.  For  the  rest,  she  moves  forward  to  meet  that  great 
destiny  "The  Future"  surely  has  in  store -for  her. 

By  permission  of  the  author,  I  add  this  chapter  to  his  most 
excellent  and  interesting  history. 

C.  W.  HEISKELL, 

Last  Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee 
Confederate  Infantry. 


APPENDIX. 


A  general  report  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  at  its 
organization  in  June,  1861,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
April,  1865,  showing  the  number  of  men  and  what  became 
of  them.  Commissioned  officers  are  not  included  in  this 
report. 


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p 

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cT 

A 

97 

24 

22 

6 

18 

18 

14 

12 

60 

17 

5 

B 

100 

34 

27 

5 

36 

18 

13 

8 

50 

17 

6 

C 

104 

15 

24 

6 

36 

20 

6 

9 

50 

20 

2 

D 

103 

11 

29 

9 

24 

18 

4 

8 

52 

20 

7 

E 

106 

24 

28 

8 

20      19 

4 

8 

50 

20 

8 

F 

93 

44 

29 

5 

36       18 

6 

8 

40 

34 

7 

G 

110 

49 

45 

13 

35 

21 

10 

14 

75 

27 

8 

H 

94 

25 

28 

11 

24 

20 

3 

15 

50 

20 

7 

I 

110 

18 

29 

6 

36 

18 

5 

10 

60 

14 

7 

K 

100 

36 

29 

5 

31 

30 

5 

8 

65 

16 

7 

1,017 

280 

290 

74 

294 

200 

70 

100 

552 

205 

64 

Total  number  1,297. 

There  were  a  number  of  our  men  who  were  wounded  several 
times,  and  if  we  count  each  wound  the  men  received  as  one 
wounded,  which  really  was  the  case,  then  there  were  at  least 
six  hundred  wounded. 

Again,  several  of  our  men  were  lost  in  battle,  and  we  never 
knew  whether  they  were  killed  or  wounded  and  captured,  for 
we  never  heard  of  them  again,  and  they  were  put  down  as 
missing. 


198 


APPENDIX. 


CASUALTIES. 


Report  giving  the  Names  and  Places  of  those  who  were   Killed, 

Wounded,  Captured  and  Died  in  the  Regiment,  giving 

the  Company  to  which  they  belonged. 


Names  of  Men.  Co. 

Burson,  James  D B 

Watts,  Samuel A 

Biddle,  A.  M A 

Bailey,  William B 

Deaderick,  J.  W B 

Dodson,  B.  H E 

McLain,  Thomas K 


Battles. 

Knoxville 


Remarks. 


Died 


Powell,  Lieut.  Robert  .       K    Barboursville        ..Killed. 


Jordan,  George 
Cressell,  John.  . 

Graham,  Geo.  W 
Hull,  Lieut.  ( 
Jordan,  John 
Barger,  W.  H 


.  C    Camp  Zollicoffer 
.C       " 


Died 


>.  W 
G.  W  
i 

..C. 
...C 
C 

Mill 
it 

Springs 

Died. 

44 

44 

H  

liam  
ies 

...C 

.A 
A 
B 
B 

c 

44 

44 

Fishing  Creek 

44            .4 

..            44 

Killed 

Wounded. 

.t.  Joseph 
tes     

Killed 
Caotured 

Dunlap,  William 
Powers,  James 
Conley,  Lieut. 
Carlton,  James 
Baker,  John.  . 

Vernon,  Abner C 

Harr,  Martin C 

Baker,  Lafayette C 

Smith,  Joseph D 

Campbell,  James D 

Short,  R.  P D 

Roller,  David  .  D 

Webb,  James C 

Clemonson,  Charley E 

Vestal,  Billie E 

Crozier,  R.  C E 


Wounded — Captured. 

"      -Died 

Wounded— Captured— Died 

.Killed 

Wounded. . 


—Died 


Killed 

Wounded. 

Captured 


CASUALTIES. 


199 


Names  of  Men. 

Meroney,  J.  N 

Carlton,  Lieut.  James  F     G. .  "  " 

Cox,  Samuel . .  .G. .  " 

Middleton,  Sergt.  M H 

Edgeman,  S.  G H..  " 

Carruack,   Isaac I..  "  " 

Welch,  Leander I  "  " 

Woodall,  Josiah I..  "  " 

Carmack,  Carroll .    .  K  " 

Moneyham, .K. .  " 

Johnson,  Andy  G K  " 

Godby,  John .A.  .Shiloh,  Tenn 

Powers,  James .   .  A .  " 

Rowe,  Louis A..  " 

Bains,  John  M B..  " 

Willette,  Capt.  Zeb.  T.  ...B..  " 

Deadrick,  Capt.  J.  G B   .  " 

Wright,  Thomas B 

Gaby,  Sam B . .  " 

King,  E.  R B..  " 

Webb,  Lieut.  Ben C..  " 

Vance,  Sam,  Sergt C. .  " 

Easteiiing,  John C . .  " 

White,  John C..  " 

Roberts,  Jack C.  .  " 

Piles.  John C..  " 

O'Conner,  John C..  " 

Erps,  Adrian .C . 

Johns,  B.  J C. 

Gray,  Al C.  " 

Harr.  Robert C.  . 

Johnson,  B.  J.  S C..  " 

Roberts,  Sam C.  .  " 

Roberts,  Isaac ....C..  " 

Lyons,  Dan C. .  " 


Co.  Battles.  Remarks. 

E .  .  Fishing  Creek,  Ky  Wounded 

"     Killed 

'  •     Wounded 

"      Killed 

"     Wounded 

.Killed. 


Paetol,  Sam C. 

Cooper,  Geo.  A     C . . 

Boofer,  Wm.  R ..D.. 

Bradford,  M D.. 

Lincoln,  John . D. . 

Newport,  J.  F.  M D. 

Shaver,  J.  A D. 

Ward,  William D., 

Wallace,  Lieut.  J.  A D., 

Kennen,  M D . . 

Cummings,  Col.  D.  H. .  . 
Fulkerson,  Major  Abe  — 
Doak,  Sergt. -Maj.  Mel 


.Wounded,. 


.Killed 


.Wounded. 


Wounded — Died 
Killed.. 


.Wounded. 


.Killed.... 
.Wounded. 


Killed 


.  Wounded . 
.Killed.. 


.Wounded. 


Killed.... 
.  Wounded . 


Wounded 


200 


APPENDIX. 


Names  of  Men.  Co.  Battles. 

Curran,  Conley E..Shiloh,  Tenu 

Bradley,  Sam E . .      " 

Cunningham,  S.  H E . . 

Leath,  T.  J , E..      " 

Craig,  Al E..      " 

Nance,  Peter  D E..      " 

Allen,  Geo.  W ,F..      " 

Forner,  Isaac F..      " 

Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M F         " 

Wayler,  Jackson G. .      " 

York,  Charley G.  .      " 

Rhea,  Lieut.  Jas.  A G..      " 

Chase,  J.  T G..      " 

Millhorn,  John G..      " 

Potterfleld,  William G         " 

Duncan,  Samuel G.  .      " 

Hawk,  Lieut.  H.  D G 

Cheek,  E.  W H 

Buckner,  John H 

Wilkins,  Lieut.  Doc  H 

Walker,  Capt.  T.  H  I 

Montague,  John  R I 

Brewer,  Clark .1          " 

Wolfenberge,  K.  S K 

Courtney,  M .K 

Etter,  C.  C K 

Keeling,  Frank K 

Carmack,  John K          " 

Speck,  L.  P  K 


Remarks. 


McKinney,  William 
DePue, 


Corinth,  Miss 


Gray,  James 

Hampton,  William 

Salts,  John B 

Flenor,  Pete C 

Roberts,  Sam C 

Cook,  John C 

Webb,  Lieut.  Ben  C 


Harr,  Robert C 

Grant,  John  M G 

Burnette,  James H 

Duglass,  H.  D H 

Graves,  Washington          .H 

Williams,  C.  F H 

Foster,  D.  L H 

Hull,  J.  M I 

Melton,  A.  J I 

Parker,  L.  D  I 


.Killed 


.Wounded. 
ii 

.Killed.. 


.  Wounded 
.Killed.. 


.Wounded. 
.Killed.... 
.  Wounded 


Killed 
Wounded 


Killed 


Wounded 
Killed 


Wounded 

Wounded — Captured 


Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died. 

Died . 

Died 

Died 

Died 


CASUALTIES. 


201 


Names  of  Men. 


Bruce,  William  

G 

Mobile,  Ala  ..Died          .    . 

Landgrace,  E.  R  

K 

Brownsville,  Miss    Died  

Cross,  A.  J  

.K 

"        Died  

Duncan,  William  

K 

"               "        Died          

Drake,  Samuel  

K 

"               "        Died 

King,  David  0  

.G 

Canton,             "        Died 

Foust,  A.  T  

.     A. 

Vicksburg,  Miss      .Died 

Travis,  Benjamin  

D 

Captured 

Loftis,  Richard  

D 

Captured 

Seamore,  John  

G 

...     Died  

Hamilton,  J.  W  

H 

"                 Died 

Melton,  J.  C 

.H 

"                         Died. 

Sexton,  S.  H 

H 

"                         Died. 

Terry,  Charles. 

.1 

"                         Died. 

Shaw,  Charles  

.1 

Died. 

Nail,  Lieut.  N.  P 

A 

Baton  Rouge,  La      Wounded 

Wright,  Thomas 

B 

White,  Emit  

C 

..     Killed      

Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M 

F 

Wounded. 

Flennor,  Andrew 

C 

.Meridian.  Miss        Died         

Jarnagin,  Maj.  R.  A 

Murfreesboro,Tenn.  Killed 

Curran,  O.  S 

A 

tt                           tt 

McGhee,  J.  M 

A 

tt                           it 

Burkhearte   \Vm 

A 

tt                           tt 

Childress   D   M. 

A 

tt                           tt 

Aikin,  S.  B 

B 

tt                           it 

Foster   Samuel 

B 

ti                           tt 

Gaby,  Criss 

.B 

tt                           tt 

Hutson,  Andy 

B 

"                     Wounded.               

Brown,  Corp.  Clabe 

.B 

Killed 

King   E    R 

B 

Wounded.                       

Easterly   John  L 

c 

Killed        

Keller   George 

c 

tt                           tt 

Erps  Adrin 

.c 

tt                           it 

Gaba   John 

c 

tt                           tt 

Burnette   Frank 

c 

"                      Wounded  

Smith   John 

c 

Roller    George 

c 

"                      Killed 

Holly   Wm 

c 

"                      Wounded.            

Fra.y.ipr.   Cant,.  J.    G 

D 

Killed. 

202 


APPENDIX. 


Names  of  Men. 

Colville,  R.  W 

Brataber,  John 

Carson,  Sam 

Loftis,  W.  D 
McClarin,  Jasper 

Mitchell,  John 

Rhea,  William 

Rudd,  A.  M 

Earnest,  Ed 

Sloan,  J.  H 

Swann,  J.  H 

Abernathy,  Lieut.  S.  B 

Kincaid,  Creed 

Ellison,  A.  J 

McKissack,  J.  R 

Skelton,  H.  H 

Williams,  P.  A 

Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M 

Tipton,  J.  A 

Barger,  J.  R 

Hamilton,  S.  Rhea 
Rhea,  Wm.  R 
Bowles,  David  R 
Ford,  Martin 
Roller,  Win 
Russell,  W.  R 

Ford,  Alford 

Cressell,  Van 

Horn,  Simeon 
Hilton,  James . 
Hale,  Elija 

Archer,  William 

Stansberry,  Y.  A. 

Smith,  Thomas 

Strange,  James. ....... 

Basket,  John 

Grogan,  Wash 

Alexander,  Tom 

Kincaid,  Pat 

At  the  Rock  Wall 


Co. 


Battles. 


Remarks. 


Murfreesboro,Tenn.  Wounded. 


Fudge,  Charles  J 

Marshall,  E.  W 
Miller,  Lieut.  W.  B 
Jackson,  E.  H 

Wax,  William 

Miller,  Charles 

Carmack,  John ,  . 

Huffmaster,  Sergt.  J.  T 


.D 

.D 
D 

D 

.D 

.D 
D 
E 

.E 

.E 

.E 
E 
F 

.F 
F 
F 

.F 
G 
G 

.G 

.G 

.G 
G 

.G 
G 

.G 
G 
G 

.G 
G 

.H 
H 
H 

.H 
H 

.H 

H 

H 

I 

I 

K 

.K 

.K 

.K 
K 
K 
K 
K 


(D 
(6) 


Killed 

Wounded. 

Killed 


Wounded. 
Killed 


Wounded. 
Killed 


Wounded. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 


Killed 


Wounded. 


.Killed. 


Wounded. 
Killed  . 


Wounded. 
Killed. 


Wounded, 

Wounded — Captured 


CASUALTIES. 


Names  of  Men.  Co.  Battles.  Remarks. 

Hefliu,  J.  M.  .  .A    Murfreesboro  Pike.  Wounded. 


Cromwell,  Martin  .B 

Humphries,  O.  M .B 

Smith,  Lieut.  A.  Win.      .  C 

Rhea,  Lieut.  R.  G F 

Ford,  A.  J G 

Beard,  George .G 

Payne,  J.  J G 

Lauderbaek,  Felix  .          .K. 


Died 


Captured 
Killed. 
Wounded. 
Died. 


Wideman,  J.  P A  Chattanooga, Tenn. Died. 


Tipton,  Lieut.  R.  J  . 
Dakin,  Charles.  B 

Morgan,  Andrew C 


Killed 
Died 


Martin,  Harris .F 

Micheals,  J.  H  .F 

Stowe,  Richard  F 

Raney,  J.  R  F 

Sharp,  F.  E F 

Smith,  Ransom F 

Hashberger,  J.  D  .K 


B 

.C 

.C. 
.C 


Deadrick,  Capt.  J.  G 
Heiskell,  Maj.  C.  W. 
Wright,  Thomas 
McPherson,  Frank 

Holly,  William 

Cooper,  John 

Jolley,  W.  F D 

Frazier,  Capt.  S.  J.  A        .D 

Barnette,  J.  W D 

Brataber,  John D 

DeLonas,  Wm D 

Kelley,  W.  A D 

Mitchell,  John D 

Renfroe,  James .D 

Tresby,  John D 

Lackey,  Capt.  Win.  W      .E 

Traynor,  Mike E 

Swann,  Wm.  H E 

Blair,  Capt.  R.  L G 

Rhea,  John  H G 

Hawley.  Martin .G 

Russell,  W.  R G 

Frazier,  Clark G 

Hawk,  Lieut.  H.  D G 

Sims,  Lieut.  J.  M .F 

Grisham,  James H 

Cook,  William H 


B.Chickamauga,Ga  Wounded  . 


Captured 

-Died     ... 

Killed 

Wounded— Captured 


.Killed. 


Wounded 

Killed.... 
Captured 

(4 

Wounded 


Killed. 


204 


APPENDIX. 


Names  of  Men. 

Chase,  Harrison 
McAndry,  J.  W 
Looney,  Ben  0.    .  . 
Carmack,  John     . 
Johnson,  Andy  G 
Stover,  Jake 


Co.  Battles.  Remarks. 

G  Chickamauga,Ga  Captured — Died  .    . 

K  "  Killed 

K 

K 
.K 
.K  "  Killed. 


Wounded 


Bruden,  J.  M A  Mission  Ridge, Tenn  Captured— Died 


Moore,  John,  (Col's  Bro).A 
Moore,  Lieut. -Col.  B.  F     A 

Moore,  James .B 

Bowers,  James B 

Smith,  Capt.  Win.  .C 

Allison,  Robert C 

Burnette,  Frank C 

Lyons,  Dan .C 

Fields,  John .  C 

Johnson,  M.  S .D 

McRussell,  Hugh D 

Ford,  James G 

Holley,  Wash  B  G 

Ensinger,  Thomas H 

Johnson,  Andy  G .K 


Captured. 
Killed. 


Captured 
Wounded 


Captured 

Wounded. 

Killed. 


Captured. 
Wounded 


Jackson,  Lea D  Dalton,Ga           Died 

Rush,  William D 

Rose,  C.  F                          .D  "      ... 

Sampson,  S.  S D  "      . 

Wright,  Calvin  .  D " 

Wood,  Talbut .G  " 

Roller,  William .G  "      " 

Hoard,  J.  J K  "      " 

Talley,  C.  T K  " 


Wright,  J.  M D 

Rhea,  Wm.  R G 

Moody,  Tobe G: 


Resaca,  Ga 


Killed... 
.  Wounded 
Killed. 


Sherman,  John B 

Oliver,  William G 

Strickler,  Rube G . 

Bowers,  William G 

Bailey,  John .G 

Orick,fM K 

Banard,  William K 

Mee,  William.  .K 


Adairsville,  Ga.  Killed. 


Wounded 


Killed    . 
Wounded 


CASUALTIES. 


205 


Names  of  Men. 

Holt,  G.  W 

Co. 

K 

Battles. 

Dallas,  Ga 

Remarks. 

.Wounded 

Miller,  T.  L  
Burrows,  Henry  

K 

K 

n 

4  4 

Hale,  Elija  

G 

New  Hope,  Ga 

44 

Breen,  Daniel  

G 

a        44 

44 

Hutsori,  Andy  

B 

.4                  44 

4  4 

Gentry,  Joshua  

D 

4  .                  44 

44 

Vestal,  Billie  

F, 

44                  44 

44 

Moore,  S.  D  

B 

Kennesaw,Ga  . 

Wounded. 

Bradley,  Ben  

D 

Wounded  —  Died 

Barnett,  Frank  

D 

44 

44                                  44 

Cantrall,  James  

D 

44 

<>                                  44 

White,  John  

F, 

44 

Killed 

Kincaid,  C.  F  

F, 

44 

44 

McRoberts,  J  .       

F 

44 

44 

Hood,  L  

F 

44 

Wounded  . 

Brown,  John  

F 

41 

Wounded  —  Died 

Cornette,  Leander  

F 

4  4 

44                                  44 

DeMurr,  A.  J  

F 

44 

44                                  44 

McJenkins,  Solomon 

F 

44 

44                  _        44 

Swann,  S.  G  

F 

4  1 

"                  _            ' 

Thomas,  C,  W.  .  . 

F 

4  4 

44                                  44 

Watts,  William 

F 

44 

44                                  44 

Chase,  Walter  

G 

44 

Captured  , 

Pugh,  Joe  

H 

44 

Killed  

Spears,  John 

K 

44 

4t 

Deadrick,  Capt.  J.  G 

B 

Peachtree  Creek 

,Ga  Wounded 

Johnson,  Andy  G  

K 

44 

Walker,  Col.  F.  M 

22d  July,  Ga 

Killed      . 

Templeton,  John 

A 

44               44 

44 

Long,  John 

A 

44               44 

4  4 

Duitt,  Tom 

A 

44                .4 

44 

Bookard,  Silas 

A 

44               44 

Wounded. 

Brabson,  Lieut.  Thomas 

B 

44               44 

4  4 

Deadrick,  Capt.  J.  G 

B 

44               44 

44 

McCrary,  H.          ... 

B 

44               44 

44 

Yorkley    Mike 

c 

44               44 

Killed 

Kennedy,  Thomas 

C 

44               44 

King    William 

c 

44               44 

TVounded. 

Kline,  Thomas 

c 

44               44 

Killed 

Colville,  Lieut.  R.  W 

D 

44               44 

.  Wounded.                

Dyer  B    H 

D 

<l               ,. 

Vestal,  Billie 

F, 

4<               4, 

it 

Ramsey    John 

F, 

«               1. 

« 

Lyons  James  A 

F, 

<4               « 

n 

Sharp,  Lieut.  J.  F  

F 

1  I               (1 

Killed 

206 


APPENDIX. 


Names  of  Men. 


Co. 


Battles. 


Remarks. 


Rhea,  Robert  J G.   L'2d  July. Killed 


Godsey,  C.  W G 

Farris,  Sam G 

Chamberlain,  George          G 

Waggoner,  George G 

McDermott,  Capt.  PaulH.H 
Richards,  Sergt.  John .       H 


Epperson   John 
Fulkerson,  George 
Hodge,  James 


Brown,  Sergt.  Isaac 

Majors,  C.  C 

Johnson,  Andy  G 
Richards,  N 


.  Wounded 
Killed 


Wounded 
Killed.  . 


B   .In  Atlanta,  Ga.     Died 

.B     "         "        «    . 

B     " 


D    Jonesboro.  Ga    Wounded. 
.D 
.K 

K 


Wyman,  William  H 

Pile,  John  H 


Lovejoy,  Ga.. 


Killed. 
Wounded 


Coughlin,  Pete A 

Bowers,  James B 

Hutson,  Andy B 

Morgan,  John C . 

Knox,  W.  G  D 

Hale,  G.  W D 

Henry,  S.  R »    D 

Kelley,  W.  A D 

Meroney,  J.  N ,E 

Waller,  Lum .E 

Hicks,  Joe  S G 

Bowers,  Billie G 

Bates,  Robert G 

Whaley,  D.  C G 

Roller,  George .G 

Holly,  WashB G: 

Mayheld,  Jack G 

Drake,  George G 

Gunning,  Joe. G 

Hawk,  Lieut.  H.  D G 

Knox,  George H 

Alexander.  Tom H . 

Phipps,   Wm.  F  H 

Hipsher,  William H 

Hale,  Lieut.  S.  Frank        H 

Grisham,  James H 

Wiggins,  James H . 

Russell,  John  .H 


Franklin,  Tenn 


Wounded 

Killed  . 


Killed.. 
Wounded 


Killed. 

Wounded— Captured 


Killed 
Wounded 


Killed,  ... 
Wounded . 

H 

.Killed. 


CASUALTIES.  207 

Names  of  Men.  Co.  Battles.  Remarks. 

Etter,  Lieut.  W.  W, K    Franklin,  Tenn.  Wounded  . 

Fulkerson,Sgt-Maj. Arthur. K  " Killed  .    . 

Buran,  H.  S .K  "  Wounded 

McCarty,  W.  N K  "  

Looney,  Marshall K  "  Killed 

Webster,  E K.  .  "  " 

Potts,  Edgar K.  .  "  "      

Shipley,  Ben K  "  Wounded 


Smith,  Capt.  Win C    Nashville, Tenn.  Captured.... 

Sullivan,  Dan .C.  .        '" 

John,  B.  J C.  "         Wounded. 

Henderson,  Pink E .  "         Captured 

Meroney,  W.  0 E  "         Wounded— Captured 

Jordan,  Nathan C    Columbia,  Tenn. Wounded— Captured. 

Watts,  Samuel .A  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Died — 

Biddle,  A.  M A..  "    

Bagley,  William B .  "    

Deadrick,  J.  W B  "    ... 

Dodson,  B.  H  .       E   .          "         "    

McClain,  Thos  K  "  "... 


Cox,  William C    Unaccounted  For 

Carroll,  Maden C.  .  " 

Cross,  Sam C .  . 

Crawford,  William C. 

Crawford,  Richard  C 


208  APPENDIX. 


LIFE   SKETCH 


OF 


BRIG.  GEN.  FRANCIS  M.  WALKER. 


GENERAL  F.  M.  WALKER,  the  second  Colonel  of  the  Old 
Nineteeth  Tennessee  Confederate  Regiment,  a  brave  and  gallant 
soldier,  who  gave  up  his  life  for  the  South  in  one  of  the  fiercest 
battles  of  the  war,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  but  a  Tennes- 
seean  by  adoption. 

He  moved  to  Eastern  Tennessee  in  1851,  and  later  made 
his  home  in  Chattanooga  in  1854.  General  Walker  was  at  that 
time  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  having  served  as  Lieutenant 
in  one  of  the  Kentucky  regiments. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  great  war  between  the  States, 
General  Walker  cast  his  lot  with  the  people  he  loved,  and  gave 
to  them  the  benefit  of  his  military  experience,  his  labor  and  his 
life.  He  raised  a  company  of  infantry  in  Chattanooga,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate  Regiment, 
and  in  the  organization  of  the  regiment  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Colonel. 

General  Walker  was  with  the  regiment  at  Cumberland  Gap, 
was  with  the  regiment  on  the  trip  to  Goose  Creek  salt  works  in 
Eastern  Kentucky,  at  Barboursville,  and  in  the  Fishing  Creek 
fight,  which  culminated  so  disastrously  to  our  forces.  It  was 
his  regiment  (the  Old  Nineteenth)  that  opened  the  battle  and 
was  being  successfully  pushed,  until  the  order  to  cease  firing 
was  given  by  General  Zollicoffer.  In  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he 
fought  with  the  regiment,  then  in  Maney's  Brigade  and  under 
General  Breckenridge,  where  he  and  the  regiment  won  praises 
in  the  reports. 

In  the  reorganization  in  1862,  he  was  made  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  and  with  the  regiment,  still  under  General  Brecken- 


L!FE  SKETCH.  209 

ridge,  was  sent  to  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Baton  Rouge,  August  the  5th,  1862. 

General  Walker  commanded  his  regiment  in  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  December  the  5th,  1862,  in  A.  P. 
Stewart's  Brigade  and  Cheatham's  Division,  and  was  com- 
mended by  General  Stewart  for  noble  service;  his  regiment 
having  suffered  more  than  any  other  in  the  brigade. 

At  Chickamauga,  as  at  Murfreesboro,  the  Old  Nineteenth 
suffered  the  heaviest  loss  of  the  brigade,  and  General  Strahl 
said :  "Colonel  F.  M.  Walker  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  B.  F.  Moore 
acted  with  such  coolness  and  skill  as  to  sustain  their  gallant 
regiment  in  an  undaunted  fight,  though  nearly  a  third  of  its 
number  fell." 

In  that  long  one  hundred  days  and  nights  continuous  battle, 
from  Dalton  to  Atlanta,  Georgia,  Colonel  Walker  was  conspicu- 
ous for  bravery. 

On  the  Kennesaw  line  Colonel  Walker's  regiment  was 
transferred  to  Maney's  Brigade,  with  Colonel  Walker  in  com- 
mand, and  which  he  led  until  he  fell  in  battle.  In  the  battle  of 
Kennesaw  Colonel  Walker  won  promotion. 

July  the  21st  Colonel  Walker  received  his  commission  as 
Brigadier  General,  but  had  not  been  assigned  to  duty  as  such. 
He  fell  in  the  battle  of  July  the  22d,  leading  his  regiment  and 
his  brigade.  So  ended  the  life  of  a  noble,  brave,  Christian 
soldier. 


210  APPENDIX. 


LIFE  SKETCH 


OF 


COLONEL  C  W.  HEISKELL. 


COLONEL  CARRICK  W.  HEISKELL  was  born  ten  miles  west 
of  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  July  25,  1836.  He  is  the  son  of 
Frederick  S.  Heiskell,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  made  his  home 
at  Knoxville  in  1814;  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  "Knoxville 
Register"  and  its  editor  for  more  than  twenty  years.  Through 
his  mother,  Eliza  Brown,  Colonel  Heiskell  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  and  of  kin  to  Colonel  Joseph  Brown,  soldier  of  the 
Revolution.  He  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Tennessee 
and  Maryville  College,  graduating  at  the  latter  school. 

He  studied  law  at  Rogersville,  Tennessee,  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  1857.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  K,  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Confederate 
Infantry,  the  first  company  raised  in  Hawkins  county,  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  regiment  in  June,  1861,  at  Knoxville,  he 
was  elected  Captain  of  Company  K.  He  commanded  his  com- 
pany through  Zollicoffer's  campaign  in  Eastern  Kentucky,  was 
in  the  engagement  at  Barboursville  and  Fishing  Creek.  After 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  he 
was  re-elected  Captain  of  the  company.  Just  after  the  battle 
of  Murfreesboro,  in  which  Major  R.  A.  Jarnagin  was  killed, 
Captain  Heiskell  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the  regiment. 

At  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  where  the  Old  Nineteenth 
suffered  a  much  heavier  loss  than  any  other  regiment  of  Strain"  s 
Brigade,  General  Strahl  said:  "  Most  of  the  field  officers  on  my 
right  were  dismounted  by  having  their  horses  shot  from  under 
them,  and  Major  Heiskell,  a  very  gallant  officer,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  foot."  The  wound  was  so  grave  that  several 
months  had  gone  by  before  he  was  able  to  rejoin  his  regiment, 
and  then  on  crutches. 


LIFE    SKETCH.  211 

Some  time  after  the  death  of  Colonel  Moore,  and  before 
the  death  of  Colonel  Walker,  Major  Heiskell  was  made  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of  the  regiment — I  think  in  January,  1864. 

After  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Georgia,  Atlanta  campaign, 
and  death  of  Colonel  Walker,  Heiskell  was  promoted  to  Colonel 
of  the  regiment. 

At  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Georgia,  although  not  able  for 
duty  he  remained  with  the  regiment  through  the  battle,  but  the 
wound  giving  him  so  much  trouble,  could  not  remain  longer.  He 
next  joined  the  regiment  at  Columbia,  Tennessee,  after  the 
battle  of  Nashville,  and  took  command  of  Strahl's  Brigade, 
which  he  kept  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Colonel  Heiskell  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  dispute  between 
Generals  Cheatham  and  Forrest,  as  to  who  should  cross  the 
Columbia  river  first,  the  two  generals  having  met  at  the  river 
at  the  same  time.  He  took  part  in  and  witnessed  the  fight  of 
the  hungry  and  bare-footed  boys  at  Anthony  Hill  and  Sugar 
Creek.  He  commanded  the  brigade  in  the  gallant  charge  under 
Hardee  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  in  which 
General  Hardee  lost  his  son. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Colonel  Heiskell  moved  to  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  was  on  the  Bench  as  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  eight 
years,  and  served  as  City  Attorney  for  four  years. 


212  APPENDIX. 


LIFE  SKETCH 


OF 


COLONEL  JAMES  G.  DEADRICK. 


JAMES  GALLITZINE  DEADRICK  was  born  April  25th,  1838,  at 
Cheek's  X  Roads  in  Jefferson  county,  Tennessee,  and  moved 
to  Jonesboro  with  his  parents  in  early  childhood. 

Was  educated  at  Washington  College,  Tennessee,  finishing 
his  college  course  at  Centre  College,  Danville,  Kentucky; 
studied  law  with  his  father,  Judge  J.  W.  Deadrick  (who  was 
afterwards  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Tennessee  for 
fourteen  years).  His  mother  was  Miss  Adeline  McDowell,  a 
grand-daughter  of  Isaac  Shelby,  Kentucky's  first  Governor. 

He  entered  the  Confederate  States  army  at  the  beginning 
of  hostilities,  as  First  Sergeant  of  Company  B,  Nineteenth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment 
was  elected  Third  Lieutenant  of  his  company. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  in  1862  he  was  elected 
Captain  of  the  company;  in  1863  he  was  promoted  to  Major,  and 
in  October,  before  Hood's  campaign  into  Tennessee,  in  1864,  he 
was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment. 

At  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  he  received  his  commission 
as  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Provisional  Army  of  the  Confed- 
erate States,  with  orders  to  report  to  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  and  was  by  him  placed  in  command  of  the  Army 
Post  at  Smithfield  Station,  North  Carolina,  and  continued  in 
command  of  the  Army  Post  until  some  time  after  the  army 
reached  Greensboro,  North  Carolina. 

A  few  days  before  the  surrender  he  was  ordered  to  Deep 
River,  a  few  miles  from  Greensboro,  and  was  there  when  the 
army  surrendered. 

After  the  surrender  he  spent  a  year  in  Illinois  and  Kentucky, 


LIFE  SKFTCH.  213 

after  which  time  he  returned  home  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  in  Blountville,  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  but  a  few 
months,  going  thence  to  Bristol,  Tennessee. 

He  was  married  September  the  30th,  1868,  to  Miss  Lizzie  J. 
Sayers  of  Pulaski  county,  Virginia.  To  them  two  children 
were  born — a  daughter,  Miss  Ella  H.,  and  a  son,  H.  S.  Deadrick. 

In  February,  1869,  he  returned  to  Jonesboro,  his  old  home, 
and  remained  there  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  until 
January,  1882,  when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  California, 
settling  in  Carpinteria,  Santa  Barbara  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  small  ranch  and  set  it  out  in  English  walnuts,  which 
have  grown  to  full  maturity,  and  he  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits 
thereof. 

Colonel  Deadrick  lost  his  wife  January,  1888,  and  has 
remained  single. 

He  was  badly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  from  a  falling 
limb  cut  off  by  a  shell  from  the  enemy's  artillery.  Was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  in  the  neck  from  a  minnie  ball, 
and  at  the  battle  of  Peach-tree  Creek  was  wounded  in  the  arm 
by  a  piece  of  shell. 

The  morning  before  the  battle  of  the  22d  July,  Colonel 
Deadrick  and  General  Walker  were  standing  together  discuss- 
ing the  coming  battle ;  Walker  had  his  commission  as  Brigadier 
General  in  his  pocket,  and  showed  it  to  Colonel  Deadrick. 
Deadrick  remarked,  "  Then  I  must  take  the  regiment  into  the 
fight."  General  Walker  said,  "  No,  I  have  not  been  assigned 
and  will  lead  the  regiment  in  the  fight." 

In  a  few  moments  the  battle  opened  and  they  were  ordered 
into  the  engagement,  and  soon  General  Walker  was  killed. 
Colonel  Deadrick  received  a  bayonet  thrust  in  the  right  hand. 
He  received  also  other  slight  wounds,  but  not  sufficient  to 
inconvenience  him. 


214  APPENDIX. 


LIFE  SKETCH. 


OF 


MAJOR  JOHN  H.  HANNAH. 


MAJOR  J.  H.  HANNAH  was  born  in  Polk  county,  Tennessee, 
May  the  2d,  1838.  He  came  of  Old  Virginia  Revolutionary  stock. 

His  parents,  John  F.  and  Grace  Telford  Hannah,  moved 
from  Virginia  and  settled  in  Polk  county,  Tennessee,  where 
Major  Hannah  was  born.  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861  his 
father,  then  seventy-nino  years  old,  with  his  five  sons,  one  of 
whom  was  Major  J.  H.  Hannah,  joined  the  Confederate  army. 
His  father  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  and  was  elected 
Captain  of  the  company.  The  company  was  assigned  to  the 
Old  Nineteenth  Tennessee,  but  his  father  being  too  old  resigned. 
At  the  organization  of  the  regiment  in  June,  1861,  J.  H.  Hannah 
was  elected  Captain  of  the  company,  and  was  assigned  as  Com- 
pany F  in  the  regiment.  He  served  in  all  the  Kentucky 
campaign  under  General  Zollicoffer.  Captain  Hannah  was  in 
the  Fishing  Creek  fight,  and  also  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  he  was  re-elected  Captain  of  his  company,  which  showed 
their  esteem  for  him.  He  remained  Captain  of  the  company 
until  October,  1864,  when  he  was  promoted  to  Major  of  the 
regiment. 

Major  Hannah  surrendered  with  the  regiment  near  Greens- 
boro, North  Carolina,  in  May,  1865.  In  one  of  the  battles  (I 
believe  it  was  Shiloh)  he  received  a  severe  blow  from  a  piece 
of  shell  on  the  breast,  which  ultimately  resulted  in  lung  trouble, 
from  which  he  died  at  his  home  in  Oliver  Springs,  Tennessee, 
January  the  llth,  1880. 

Major  Hannah  married  Miss  Lillie  Gerding  in  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  in  June,  1867,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale commission  business.  Two  sons  were  born  to  them, 
Gerald  G.  and  Harvey  H.  Hannah,  the  gifted  orator  of  Tennes- 
see, who  now  lives  at  Oliver  Springs,  Tennessee. 


SURVIVORS.  215 


LIST  OF  SURVIVORS 

OF  THE  OLD  NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE  CONFEDERATE 
REGIMENT,  AND  THEIR  PRESENT  ADDRESS. 


Alaway,  J.  H Riceville,  Term. 

Anderson,  H.  G Denver,  Col. 

Anderson,  Dave Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Brewer,  Clark Memphis,  Tenn. 

Brabson,  T.  M Weatherford,  Texas. 

Bishop,  Noah, Morristown,  Tenn. 

Buran,  Henry Rogersville,  Tenn. 

Bernard,  Mitchel Chimney  Top,  Tenn. 

Bailey,  John Blountville,  Teun. 

Barger,  George Indian  Springs,  Tenn. 

Carlton,  Robert Magazine,  Ark. 

Carltou,  A Thorn,  Tenu. 

Culliny,  Mike Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Colville,  R.  W Hill  City,  Tenn. 

Chase,  John Fordtown,  Tenn. 

Chase,  Isaac Kindrick  Creek,  Tenn. 

Chamberlain,  Charles Bluff  City,  Tenn. 

Carney,  Thomas Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Craig,  Rev.  J.  N Optimus,  Ark. 

Crawford,  J.  R Bristol,  Tenn. 

Cox,  Sam Arcadia,-  Tenn. 

Cressell,  William Gross,  Tenn. 

Deadrick,  Dot Unaka  Spring,  Tenn. 

Deadrick,  Col.  J.  G Carpinteria,  Cal. 

Doak,  Ned Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dyer,  J.  A Johnson  City,  Tenn. 

Frazier,  Capt.  S.  J.  A Hill  City,  Tenn. 

Frazier,  T.  C Blountville,  Tenn. 

Ford,  Henry Fordtown,  Tenn. 

Fulkerson,  Maj.  A Bristol,  Tenn. 

Graves,  Geo.  A Springdale,  Ark. 


216  APPENDIX. 

Heiskell,  Col.  C.  W Memphis,  Term. 

Henderson,  E.  P Talladega,  Ala. 

Henderson,  Ab.  C Louisville,  Tenn. 

Hipsher,  William Thorn  Hill,  Tenn. 

Hawkins,  John Graysville,  Ga. 

Hardy,  J .  H Lexington,  Ky . 

Havely,  Sergt.  James  H.  .Lexington,  Ky. 

Hawk,  Lieut.  H.  D Sac,  Tenn. 

Hawk,  James  M Lawson,  Tenn. 

Hamilton,  W.  P Bristol,  Tenn. 

Hannah,  R.  O Washington,  Ark. 

Hodge,  J.  C Morristown,  Tenn. 

Hicks,  Nathan White's  Store,  Tenn. 

Johnson,  J.  R Tate  Springs,  Tenn. 

Johnson,  Andy  G New  Tazewell,  Tenn. 

James,  R.  P Memphis,  Tenn. 

King,  Rutledge White's  Store,  Term. 

Keys,  Benjamin Blountville,  Tenn. 

Luster,  Thomas Walis,  Va. 

Lackey,  Jack Weatherford,  Texas. 

Lyons,  Rev.  J.  A Knoxville,  Temi. 

Mullins,  H.  B Indian  Springs,  Tenn. 

Montgomery,  P.  G Spring  Hill,  Tenn. 

Meroney,  J.  N Dark's  Mill,  Tenn. 

Moore,  J.  H Lamar,  Ark. 

Morrow,  J.  B Klein,  Ala. 

Mason,  John Galbraith  Sp'gs,  Term. 

Miller,  T.  C Rogersville,  Tenn. 

Matlock,  Henry Riceville,  Tenn. 

Norton,  Rev.  R.  W Rockdale,  Texas. 

Phipps,  Wm Rogersville,  Tenn. 

Perry,  Clabe Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Pickle,  Jack Ten  Mile,  Tenn. 

Powell,  Thomas Etonton,  Ga. 

Roberts,  Hilton Athens,  Tenn. 

Rhea,  W.  R Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Rhea,  W.  L Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Rhea,  Joe Blountville,  Tenn. 

Rhea,  John  L Blountville,  Tenn.. 

Roller,  G.  W Sorrell,  Tenn. 

Roller,  U.  T Childress,  Tenn. 

Rains,  James Wildwood,  Ga. 


SURVIVORS.  217 

Rutledge,  Wade Vance's  Tank,  Tenn. 

Sullins,  Rev.  David Cleveland,  Tenn. 

Snapp,  Capt.  J.   P Blountville,  Tenn. 

Snapp,  S.  H Blountville,  Tenn. 

Strickler,  Abija Kindrick's  Creek,  Tenn. 

Strickler,  Ruben. Kindrick's  Creek,  Tenn. 

Sims,  Capt.  J.  M Valdosta,  Ga. 

Spears,  C.  C Rogersville,  Tenn. 

Standfield,  Jesse Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Sinkenecht,  Dr.  S.  C Kingston,  Tenn. 

Tipton,  George Cloverbottom,  Tenn. 

Tyner,  James Nashville,  Tenn. 

Thompson,  Joe Kingston,  Tenn. 

Ursey,  J.  R Rossville,  Ga. 

Worsham,  Dr.  W.  J Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Warren,  J.  H Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Waller,  Capt.  J.  L Kingston,  Tenn. 

Waller,  Lum Windott  Falls,  Texas. 

Whaley,  D.  C Kindricks  Creek,  Tenn. 

Williford,  Parson Lyceum,  Tenn. 

Williford,  Jake Copeville,  Texas. 

Wright,  Thomas Bristol,  Tenn. 

Webb,.  John Bristol,  Tenn. 

Wells,  Sam Bull's  Gap,  Tenn. 


218 


APPENDIX. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C. 


Company  "C,"  called  the  "Blountville  Guards,"  was 
organized  in  Blountville,  Sullivan  Co.,  Tennessee,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  in  June, 
1861,  at  Knoxville,  and  was  composed  as  follows: 


OFFICERS. 


James  P.  Snapp, 
Charles  J.  St.  John, 
George  Hull,     . 
John  M.  Jones, 
Benjamin  Webb 
W.  D.  Gammon, 
Robert  Hughes, 
A.  W.  Smith,    . 
Sam  Vance, 
M.  J.  Miles,     -. 
L.  Snapp, 
W.  H.  Snapp    . 
S.  P.  Pectol 


Captain. 

1st  Lieutenant. 

2d 

3d 

1st  Sergeant. 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

1st  Corporal. 

2d 

3d 

4th 


PRIVATES. 


Allison,  Robert 
Burnett,  F.  W. 
Baker,  John 
Baker,  Lafayette 
Barger,  William 
Cross,  Samuel 
Cross,  Elk 
Crawford,  William 
Crawford,  Dick 
Cooper,  George  A. 
Cressell,  John 
Carroll,  Nathan 
Cox,  Wm.  S. 


Garden,  Columbus 
Carr,  William 
DePue,  Samuel 
Darnell,  James 
Erps,  Adrin 
Easterly,  John  L. 
Flenor,  William 
Flenor,  Andy 
Flenor,  Peter 
Flenor,  G.  W. 
Fields,  John  W. 
Felts,  James 
Goba,  Samuel 


Goba,  John  H. 
Gray,  Alvin 
Graham,  Geo.  L. 
Gray,  William 
Harr,  Robert 
Hull,  Lieut.  G.  W. 
Harr,  Martin 
Haegin,  William  R. 
Harvey,  W.  C. 
Henderson,  B.  F. 
Hawley,  William 
Hawley,  James  R. 
Hamilton,  Samuel 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C. 


219 


Harr,  David 
Irwin,  Wrn.  R. 
Johnson,  B.  J,  G. 
Jordan,  John 
Jordan,  George 
Jordan,  Thomas 
Jordan,  Nathan 
King,  William 
Kennedy,  Thomas 
Love,  "Win ton 
Love,  Alford 
Lyons,  Daniel 
McPherson,  Frank 
Leonard,  Mike 
Miles,  Lieut.  Wm. 
Miles,  John 
Miles,  Robert 


Mullins,  H.  B. 
Malone,  Jake  W. 
Miller,  John  S. 
Minnick,  Ike 
Morgan,  Andrew 
Morgan,  John 
O'Conner,  John 
Pile,  John 
Perry,  William 
Roller,  George 
Roberts,  John 
Roberts,  Pete 
Roberts,  James 
Roberts,  Jackson 
Roberts,  Sam 
Russell,  John 
Smith,  John 


Smith,  Jonathan 
Sullivan,  Dan 
Shaver,  Andy  M. 
Shay,  John 
Spray,  Aaron 
Stuffle,  J. 
Smith,  George 
Snapp,  Abram 
Vernon,  Abner 
Webb,  James 
Webb,  John 
Webb,  George 
Williams,  Wm. 
Yorkley,  Mike 
White,  John 
White,  Emmet 
Pyott,  Dr.  E.  S. 


220 


APPENDIX. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E. 


Company  E,  the  "Knoxville  Grays"  as  they  were  called, 
was  raised  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  in  May  1861,  by  Dr.  John 
W.  Paxton,  and  enrolled  upon  the  regimental  roster  of  the 
Nineteenth,  Tennessee  Confederate  Regiment,  June  10th,  1861. 


OFFICERS. 


Dr.  John  W.  Paxton, 
John  M.  Miller, 
J.  B.  Graham, 
W.  W.  Lackey, 
S.  P.  Hamilton, 
R.  Pink  Henderson, 
Joe  Pate, 
Joe  Story, 
Jas.  R.  Stephenson, 
D.  G.  Rumsey, 
F.  M.  Demsey, 


Captain. 

1st  Lieutenant. 

2d 

3d 

1st  Sergeant. 

2d 

3d 

1st  Corporal. 

2d 

3d 

4th 


PEIVATES. 


Abernathy,  S.  G. 
Bell,  Oscar  F. 
Boyce,  George 
Bradley,  John 
Bradley,  Samuel 
Brady,  Mike 
Bondran,  E.  H. 
Cullaney,  Mike 
Chamberlain,  Tom 
Carriger,  Nick 
Callaway,  George 
Callaway,  James 
Cox,  M.  D. 
Cox,  J.  B. 
Caston,  Jno.  H. 


Crozier,  Bob 
Craig,  Jas.  N. 
Clemenson,  Charles 
Cuningham,SamH. 
Crawford,  Harry 
Davis,  John 
Day,  Mike 
Doak,  Joe  A. 
Engledow,  Oscar 
Earnest,  Edward 
Earnest,  Elijah 
Evans,  John 
Goodner,  Peter 
Gibson,  Edward 
Gilmore,  V.  B. 


Henley,  George 
Hulvey,  William 
Henderson,  John 
Henderson,  Ab  C. 
Hickey,  N.  G.  T. 
House,  J.  M. 
Hook,  Robert 
Howard,  Tom 
Hall,  Jake 
Hall,  Tom 
Holston,  Henry 
Ish,  Benj.  A. 
Jones,  Dick 
Jarnagin,  Rufus  A. 
Kincaid,  C.  F. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E. 


221 


Kincaid,  Pat 
Kincaid,  John 
Keeland,  Fred 
Kuhn,  David 
Lackey,  A.  J. 
Lackey,  W.  W. 
Lackey,  Sani  M. 
Lyons,  Edward 
Lyons,  James  A. 
Leath,  William 
Leath,  Alexander 
Leath,  Thomas 
Lyle,  John 
Love,  Samuel 
Meroney,  J.  N. 
Meroney,  W.  Oscar 
McHague,  Joe 


McCarney,  John 
Moran,  Frank 
Nance,  Peter  D. 
Nelson,  Bob 
Osborne,  Fielding 
Pate,  J'  F. 
Perry,  Clabe 
Pickle,  Jake 
Ryan,  John 
Rhodes,  Wilson 
Reed,  William 
Reed,  Brownlow 
Rutherford,  Isaac 
Russell,  A.  P, 
Ross,  B. 
Sterchi,  A. 
Starks,  Jake 


Swann,  Harvey 
Seincknett,  C. 
Stevens,  Walter  B. 
Trainor,  Mike 
Vestal,  Billie 
White,  John 
Wright,  Thomas 
Waller,  Jake  L. 
Waller,  H.  A. 
Waller,  Lum 
Waller,  George 
Wakenight,  W.  C. 
Williams,  J.  N. 
Walker,  Robert 
Wilkins,  Charles 
Worthington,  Sam'l 


222 


APPENDIX. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G. 


This  company  was  organized  in  Blountville,  Sullivan 
county,  Tennessee,  in  May,  1861,  and  mustered  into  the  Nine- 
teenth Tennessee  Confederate  Regiment  at  Knoxville  in  June 
following. 


OFFICERS. 


A.  L.  Gammon, 
James  P.  Rhea, 
Robert  Blair, 
James  Carlton, 
Win.  H.  Smith, 
J.  R.  Crawford, 
Nathan  Thomas, 
Benjamin  Keys, 
John  H.  Rhea, 
Moore  Childress, 
James  H.  Holt, 
John  Grant, 


PRIVATES. 


Anderson,  David  D. 
Bennett,  Criss.    . 
Birdwell,  Alford 
Barnes,  William 
Beard,  Rufus 
Blair,  Frank 
Beard,  George 
Bruce,  William 
Bates,  John 
Bates,  B. 
Bowery,  William 
Bacon,  Samuel 
Bowery,  Cain 
Bowery,  James 


Captain. 

1st  Lieutenant. 

2d 

3d 

1st  Sergeant. 

2d 

3d 

4th 

1st  Corporal. 

2d 

3d 

4th 


Bowery,  John 
Barger,  John 
Baxter,  George 
Chase,  Isaac  P. 
Chase,  John 
Chase,  Walter 
Cox,  Samuel 
Carlton,  Adam 
Cressel,  William 
Cressel,  Van 
Cross,  James 
Cross,  Samuel 
Carroll,  William 
Childress,  Samuel 


Chase,  Jerry 
Chase,  Nelson 
Chase,  Jackson 
Chase,  Harris 
Drake,  David  A. 
Drake,  Geo.  W. 
Drake,  Elk 
Drake,  Isaac 
Duncan,  Sam 
Duncan,  Lafayette 
Duncan,  Matthew 
Duncan,  William 
Erwin,  John 
Ford,  Martin 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G. 


223 


Fitzgerald,  Thos. 
Fields,  John 
Ford,  James 
Ford,  Henry 
Flenor,  Jacob 
Gray,  Thomas 
Gallaway,  Nathan 
Gammon,  Hull 
Gunning,  Sinclair 
Gallaway,  Benj. 
Gammon,  J.  K.  P. 
Hamilton,  William 
Hamilton,  S.  Rhea 
Hamilton,  George 
Horn,  Simeon 
Hawk,  H.  Decatur 
Hawk,  William 
Harr,  Simon 
Hilton,  John 
Hawk,  James 


Horn,  David 
Hartness,  Martin 
Helbert,  James 
Jackson,  J.  T. 
Jackson  (col.  cook) 
Lacy,  James 
Lyons,  John 
Morell,  John 
Montgomery,  Pete 
Morton,  William 
Moody,  Toll 
Milburn,  - 
Moore,  Morris 
Nichols,  Bill  (cook) 
Poe,  Jesse 
Peoples,  - 
Potterfield,  Wm. 
Roller,  David 
Roller,  William 
Roller,  George 


Russell,  - 
Rutledge,  Wade 
Roe,  L. 
Rhea,  Wm.  R. 
Rhea,  Joseph 
Rhea,  Robt.  J. 
Rhea,  John  L.. 
Ship,  John 
Ship,  Sterling 
Ship,  Hardin 
Shea,  Dennis 
Starr,  Dennis 
Stanfield,  Jesse 
Strickler,  Ruben 
Strickler,  Abija 
Spurgeon,  Joseph 
Tipton,  John  A. 
Wolford,  Wm.  G. 
Wagler,  Jackson 


ERRATA. 


Page  24,  line  3d  from  bottom,  should  read,  R.  P.  Short* 

Page  34,  line  13th  from  top,  should  read  moved  out  from  Murfreesboro. 

Page  49,  line  1st  from  top,  should  read  Jno.  M.  Hull,  Co.  I. 

Page  61,  line  3d  from  top,  should  read  of  the  Old  Nineteenth,  Thos.  Wright. 

Page  69,  line  2nd  from  top,  should  read  after  the  bands  had  finished. 

Page  73,  line  12th  from  top,  should  read  all  through  the  cedars. 

Page  75,  line  (under  wounded)  should  read  J.  T.  Huffmaster. 

Page  93,  line  25th  from  top,  should  read  made  in  their  lines. 

Page  94,  lice  (under  killed)  should  read  Swan,  Wm.  H.  Co.  E. 

Page  99,  line  19th  from  top,  should  read  Gen.  Gregg  had  been  returned. 

Page  126,  line  (under  wounded)  should  read  Strickler,  Ruben  Co.  G. 

Page  131,  line  (under  wounded)  should  read  McCeary,  H.  Co.  B. 

Page  134,  line  2d,  3rd,  9th  from  bottom,  should  read  Maj.  Deadrick  promoted 

to  Lieut-Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 
Page  145,  line  12th  from  bottom  should  read  Lum.  Waller  of  Co.  E. 
Page  149,  line  (under  killed)  should  read  Hale,  Lieut.  S.  P.  Co.  H. 
Page  150,  line  (under  wounded)  should  read  Lum.  Waller  Co.  E. 


*The  words  in  italics  are  the  correct  words. 


INDEX 


Abernathy,  Lieut.  S.  B 47,  71,  75,  76,  202 

Allen,  George 45,  200 

Aiken,  S.  B 74,  201 

Archer,  William  A 75,  202 

Alexander,  Thomas 75,  144,  150,  202,  206 

Allison,  Robert 101,  204 

Arkansas  Ram 58,  60 

Battle  of  Snow-Balls 107 

Battle  of  Rock  Castle ! 18 

Battle  of  Fishing  Creek  21 

Battle  of  Shiloh 36 

Battle  of  Baton  Rouge 59 

Battle  of  Murfreesboro 68 

Battle  of  Chickamauga 87 

Battle  of  Mission  Ridge 99 

Battle  of  Resaca 113 

Battle  of  New  Hope 117 

Battle  of  Pickets'  Mills '. 118 

Battle  of  Old  Kennesaw 120 

Battle  of  22nd  July 128 

Battle  of  Jonesboro 131 

Battle  of  Franklin 141 

Battle  of  Nashville 151 

Battle  of  Bentonville 172 

Blair,  Lieut.  Robert  L. 9,  94,  203 

Burson,  James  D. 198 

Brass  Band 13,  17 

Baker,  John 26,  198 

Baker,  Lafayette 24,  26,  198 

Breen,  Daniel 117,  126,  205 

Burrows,  Henry 117,  126,  205 

Bains,  John ' .... 45,  199 

Bradford,  M 45,  199 

Brabson,  Lieut,  T.  M 47,  76,  83,  131,  205 

Boofer,  Wm.  R 45,  199 

Bradley,  Samuel 45,  200 

Bradley,  Benjamin 126,  205 

Buckner,  J.  M 45,  200 

Benard,   William 116,  204 


226  INDEX. 

Burnett,  Frank 75,  101,  201,  204 

Burnett,  James 200 

Burkheart,  William ' 74,  201 

Brataber,  John , 75,  94,  202,  203 

Bowers,  James .101,  149,  204,  206 

Bowers,  William 116,  149,  204,  206 

Brown,  Sergt.  Isaac 133,  206 

Brown,  Corp.  Clabe .  74,  201 

Brown,  John 126,  205 

Bowles,  William. 47 

Bowles,  D.  R 74,  202 

Barger,  J.  R 74,  202 

Barger,  W.  H 26,  198 

Barnett,  Frank 126,  205 

Barnett,  J.  W 94,  203 

Basket,  John 75,  202 

Bruce,  William 45,  201 

Bruden,  J.  M 101,  204 

Bruner,   S.  H  150 

Bates,  Robert  .  150,  206 

Biddle,  A.  M 198,  207 

Bagley,  William 207 

Beard,   George 203 

Brewer,  Clark 45,  181,  200 

Buran,  Henry 150,  207 

Bailey,  John .116,  204 

Bookard,  Silas 129,  131,  205 

Baily,  William 198 

Cummings,  Col,  D,  H 8,  11,  12,  17,  20,  21,  23,  32,  199 

Carlton,  Lieut.  James. 9,  24,  1!)!) 

Conley,  Lieut.  Joseph 8,  24,  182,  198 

Colville,  Lieut.  R.  W 75,  83,  131,  202,  205 

Colville,  Capt.  Elmon  E 9 

Carney,  Lieut.  Thomas. 47 

Cressell,  Van 75,  202 

Cressell,  John 198 

Conwell,  Martin 78,  203 

Clemenson,  Charley 23,  24,  198 

Carlton,  Lieut.  J 9,  24,  198 

Campbell,  James .  .24,  198 

Cheek,  E.  W 45,  200 

Cheek,  George 110 

Crozier,  R.  C 26,  198 

Carmack,  John 45,  75,  94,  200,  202,  204 

Cai-mack,  Isaac 199 

Carmack,  Carroll .24,  199 

Cox,  William 207 

Cox,  Samuel 24,  199 

Cunningham,  Lieut.  Thomas 47,  83 


INDEX.  227 

Cunningham,   S.  H 45,  200 

Curran,  Conley 45,  200 

Curran,  0.  S 74,  201 

Chase,  Harrison 97,  204 

Chase,  J.  T 45,  200 

Chase,  Walter 205 

Courtney,  M 45,  200 

Craig,  A.  L 45,  200 

Carroll,  Maden 207 

Cook,  John 49,  200 

Cook,  William 94,  203 

Cross,  A.  J 49,  200 

Cross,  Sam 207 

Childress,  D.  M '.'..'., 74,  201 

Carson,  Sam 75,  202 

Coughlin,  Pete 150,  206 

Cooper,  John 94.  203 

Cooper,  George  A 45,  199 

Cantrell,  James 26,  205 

Carnett,  Leander 126,  205 

Chamberlain,  George. 130,  206 

Crawford,  William 207 

Crawford,  Richard 207 

Doak,  H.  Mell  .  .  .  8,  199 

DeLaney,  Dr.  J.  E 8,  26,  47,  59,  130,  132 

Deadriek,  Capt,  J.  G 8,  47,  55,  104,  111,  118,  134,  199,  203,  205,  212 

Deadrick,  J.  W - 198,  207 

Dunlap,  William, 24,  198 

DePugh. 49,  200 

Duglass,  H.  D 200 

Duncan,  William 49,  201 

Duncan,  Samuel 45,  200 

Drake,   Samuel 49,  201 

Drake,  George 150,  206 

DeLonas,  William 94,  203 

Dakin,   Charles 49,  203 

DeMurr,  A.  J '. 126,  205 

Dyer,  D.  H 131,  205 

Dodson,  B.  H 198,  207 

Duit,  Thomas 129,  130,  205 

Etter,  Lieut.  W.  W 48,  61,  77,  145,  150,  207 

Etter,  Columbus  C 45,  200 

Easterling,  John  L 44,  45,  199,  201 

Erps,  Adrin 45,  74,  199,  201 

Edgeman,  S.  G 24,  199 

Earnest,  Edward .75,  202 

Engledow,  Lieut.  Oscar .- 82 

Ensinger,  Thomas 101,  204 


INDEX. 

• 

Epperson,  John 131,  206 

Ellison,  A.  J 74,  202 

Fulkerson,  Maj.   A ...  .8,  11,  41,  45,  199 

Fulkerson,  Arthur 47,  132,  133,  145,  149,  207 

Fulkerson,  George 131,  20G 

Foust,  Lieut.  Frank 8,  47 

Foust,  A.  T ' 201 

Frazier,  Capt.  S.  J.  A 9,  47,  75,  76,  85,  94,  203 

Frazier,  J.  G 47,  71,  76,  201 

Frazier,  Clark 94,  203 

Forner,  Isaac 45,  200 

Fields,  John 97,  101,  204 

Flenor,  Pete 49,  200 

Flenor,  Andrew 64,  201 

Foster,  D.  L 200 

Foster,  Samuel 74,  201 

Ford,  Martin 75,  202 

Ford,  Alford  J 75,  202,  203 

Ford,  James  J 78,  101,  204 

Fudge,  Charles  J 75,  202 

Ferris,  Samuel 130,  206 

Gregg,  Lieut.  Nathan .8 

Graham,  Lieut.  J.  K 9 

Gaby,  Cri&s 201 

Graham,  G.  W 26,  198 

Gaston,  Lieut.  P.  C     .9 

Gammon,  Capt.  A.  L 9,  48 

Gammon,  Lieut.  J.  K.  P 48,  77 

Gammon,  Lieut.  W.  D 77,  175 

Godby,  John 45,  199 

Godsey,  C.  W 131,  206 

Gaby,  Samuel 45,  199 

Gaby,  Charles 74 

Gaby,  John 74,  201 

Gray,  Al 45,  199 

Gray,  James 49,  200 

Grant,  John  M 49,  200 

Graves,  Washington -200 

Garner,  William .110 

Grisham,  James '. 94,  150,  203,  206 

Gentry,  Joshua 126,  205 

Grogan,  Washington 75,  202 

Gunning,  Joe 150 

Goose-Creek  trip 14 

Hull,  Lieut.  Geo,  H 9,  26,  198 

Hull,  John  M.  200 


INDEX.  229 

Hannah,  Maj.  J.  H 9,  47,  118,  134,  135,  175,  214 

Hooper,  Lieut.  Warren 9 

Holmes,  Lieut.  J.  C .9 

Hammer,  Lieut.  J.  C 47,  76 

Heiskell    Col    C   W  I  9'  48'  77'  83'  84'  86'  91»  94»  104'  157 

I  158,  159,  160,  161,  175,  203,  210 

Henderson,  Pink 23,  155,  207 

Hcirr,  Martin 24,  26,  198 

Harr,  Robert 45,  49,  199,  200 

"Hornet's  Nest" 39 

Harvey,  Capt.  W.  C 47,  77 

Hodge,  Lieut.  A.  B 47 

Hodge,  James 131,  206 

Hawk,  Lieut.  H.  D : 48,  77,  94,  200,  203,  206 

Hale,  Lieut.  S.  F .48,  145,  149,  206 

Hale,  Elijah 75,  117,  126,  202,  205 

Hale,  Lieut.  Wm 48 

Hale,  G.  W 150,  206 

Hoyle,  Lieut.  Ben  F 48,  135 

Huffmaster,  Lieut.  J.  H 48,  75,  77,  101 

Huffmaster,  Sergt.  J.  T 202 

Home  and  Mother 147 

Hampton,  William 48,  200 

Hamilton,  S.  Rhea 74,  202 

Hamilton,  J.  W 201 

Home,  Simon 75,  202 

Hilton,  James 75,  202 

Humphreys,  O.  M  78,  203 

Holly,  William 75,  94,  201,  203 

Hawley,  Martin  C 94,  203 

Hashberger,  J.  D 98,  203 

Hoard,  J.  J 109,  204 

Holt,  G.  W  117,  126,  205 

Hood,  L 126,  205 

Hipsher,  William  L 150,  206 

Heflin,  J.  M -. 203 

Henry,  S.  R 150,  206 

Havely,  Sergt.  James  H 168 

Holly,  Washington  B 101,  150,  204,  206 

Hicks,  Joseph  S  .  150,  206 

Hutson,  Andy 75,  122,  201,  205,  206 

Irwin,  William  R -: 175 

Irwin,  J.  B 62 

Johnson ,   V.Q 8 

Johnson,  B.  J.  S.  45,  155,  199 

Johnson,  M.  S 101,  204 

Johnson,  J.  J 133 

Johnson,  Andy  G 24,  !)4,  101,  133,  199,  204,  205,  206 

Jones,  Lieut.  John  M !l 


230  INDEX. 

Jones,  Lieut.  R.  P 83 

Jordan,  John 26,  198 

Jordan,  Nathan 162,  207 

Jordan,  George. 198 

Johns,  B.  J 45,  199,  207 

Jarnagin,  Major  R.  A  47,  71,  72,  74,  77,  201 

Jackson,  E.  H 75,  202 

Jackson,  Lee 109,  204 

Jolly,  W.  F • 94,  203 

Jenkins,  S.  M 62 

Kennedy,  Capt.  D.  A  8,  47 

Kennedy,  J.  H  .  47 

Kennedy,  Thomas 101,  130,  205 

Kimbrough,  Capt.  J.  H. 48,  135,  175 

Kuhn,  David 11 

Kennon,  M 45,  199 

Keeling,  Frank. ...  45,  200 

Keller,  George  W 74,  201 

Kincaid,  Pat 74,  202 

Kincaid,  Creed  F 75,  125,  202,  205 

Kelly,  W.  A 94,  150,  203,  206 

Kline,  Thomas  130,  205 

King,  William  .  41,  131,  20."> 

King,  David  O 201 

King,  E.  B 45,  199,  201 

Knox,  W.  G 149,  206 

Knox,  George 149,206 

List  of  Survivors 21,") 

Lamb,  Rufus 8,  47,  97 

Lackey,  Capt.  W.  W  9,  47,  89,  94,  203 

Lackey,  Jack 97 

Lowery,  Capt.  W.  H  '.» 

Lovejoy,  Lieut.  W.  H  9,  48 

Lovejoy,  John 9 

Lyons,  Rev.  J.  A 205 

Lyons,  Dan 45,  101,  199,  204 

Leath,  J.  T 45,  200 

Lincoln,  John 45,  199 

Lively,  Capt.  J.  D.  48 

Landgrace,  E.  R.  49,  201 

Loftis,  D.  W 75,  202 

Loftis,  Richard 201 

Lauderback,  Felix. 78,  203 

Looney,  Benjamin  0 89,  94,  204 

Looney,  Marshall 149,  207 

Long,  John 129,  130,  205 

Miller,  Lieut.  Pete 9 

Miller,  Lieut.  John  M  .  9 


INDEX.  231 

Miller,  Lieut.  William  B  48,  75,  77,  108,  202 

Miller,  Charles  75,  202 

Miller,  T.  L 117,  120,  205 

Miles,  Lieut.  M.  J .47,  77 

Miles,  Lieut.  William  47 

Maston,  Thomas 9 

Moore,  Lieut. -Col.  B.  F 4,  9,  47,  55,  66,  83,  84,  99,  101,  204 

Moore,  James 101,  204 

Moore,  John 45,  204 

Moore,  C.   Columbus 97 

Moore,  S.  D 205 

Moore,  John  C 201 

Middleton,  Sergeant  M 24,  199 

Massengill,  Felix. 45 

Moneyham,  -       -  24,  199 

Milhorn,  John 200 

Meroney,  John  N 150,  199,  206 

Meroney,  W.  0 155,  207 

Montague,  J.  R .45,  200 

Melton,  A.  J 49,  200 

Melton,  J.  C 201 

Martin,  Harris 98,  203 

Marshall,  E.  W 24,  75,  202 

Mitchell,  John 75,  94,  202,  203 

Morgan,  Andrew 98,  203 

Morgan,  John 149,  206 

Mason,  Corporal  John 71,  129 

Micheals,  J.  H 98,  203 

Moody,  Tobe .  .114,  204 

Mee,  William .    .  116,  204 

Majors,  C.  C. .  .133,  206 

McCarty,  W.  N 150,  207 

McAndry,  J.  W 94,  204 

McDermott,  Capt.  Paul 48,  129,  130,  135,  206 

McGhee,  J.  M .  .74,  201 

McKinney,  William 48,  200 

McKissack,  J.  R 74,  202 

McClarin,  Jasper 75,  202 

McClain,  Thomas 198,  207 

McJenkins,   Solomon 126,  205 

McPherson,  Frank. 94,  175,  203 

McRussell,  Hugh : .  .101,  204 

McRoberts,  J ...  .125,  126,  205 

McCreary,  H 131,  205 

Mayfield,  Jack 150,  206 

"Mill  Springs" ..18 

Montgomery,  Dr 59 

Newport,  J.  F  45,  199 


232  INDEX. 

Nail,  Lieut.  R.  P.  .  47,  82,  201 

Norton,  Rev.  R.  W 105,  108,  174 

Nance,  Peter  D 200 

Organization  of  Regt. .8 

Old  Hunger 10 

O'Conner,  John 45,  199 

Oliver,  William .116,  204 

Orick,  M .116,  204 

Paxton,  Capt.  John  W 9 

Payne,  J.  J 78,  203 

Powell,  Capt.  J.  D 8,  10 

Powell,  Lieut.  Robt.  D .9,  14,  181,  198 

Powell,  Sam  P  9 

Powers,  James  24,45,198,199 

Perry,  Clabe .  . .  .23,  163,  164 

Pile,  John 45,  199,  206 

Pyotte,  Dr.  J.  E 47 

Parker,  L.  D 200 

Pruitt,  Nathan 77 

Pugh,  Joe 205 

Potts,  Edger 149,  207 

Phipps,  William  F 150,  200 

"Pickett's  Mills" 118 

Polk,  death  of  Gen.  L . ...  .119 

Pactol,  Sam  P. . ., 45,  199 

Potterfleld,  William .45,  200 

Parrott,  Dan 94 

Rhea,  Lieut.  James  A 9,  45,  48,  200 

Rhea,  Lieut.  Robt.  G  47,  78,  82,  203 

Rhea,  Lieut.  Wm 75,  202 

Rhea,  Lieut.  John  H 77,  94,  203 

Rhea,  William  R 75,  114,  202,  204 

Rhea,  John  L • 24 

Rhea,  Robert  J 130,  206 

Roster  of  Co.  C 218 

Roster  of  Co.  E   220 

Roster  of  Co.  G 222 

Roller,  David 24,  26,  75,  198 

Roller,  William 109,  202,  204 

Roller,  James 125 

Roller,  George,  (Co.  G) 150,  206 

Roller,  George,  (Co.  C) 74,  201 

Rock  Castle 16 

Rowe,  Louis 45,  199 

Roberts,  Isaac -. 45,  199 

Roberts,  Jackson 45,  199 

Roberts,  Samuel .45,  49,  199,  200 


INDEX.  233 

Reorganization .46 

Russell,  William  R 75,  202,  203 

Russell,  John .149,  206 

Renfro,  James 94,  203 

Raney,  J.  R 98,  203 

Rush,  William 109,  204 

Rose,  C.  F 109,  204 

Richards,  Sergt.  John 110,  129,  130,  206 

Richards,  N 133,  206 

Ramsey,  John 131,  205 

Rocky-Face .111 

Rudd,  A.  M 202 

Riley,  S.  W : 62 

Sullins,  Rev.  David 8,  13,  58,  105 

Snapp,  Capt.  Jno.  K 9 

St.  John,  Charles 9 

Sims,  Lieut.  J,  M.     .9,  44,  45,  47,  61,  72,  75,  94,  118,  134,  200,  201,  202,  203 

Spears,  Lieut.  Sam 9 

Spears,  John 123,  125,  205 

Spears,  C.  C 77 

Smith,  Capt.  A.  Winn '....47,  77,  78,  101,  155,  203,  204,  207 

Smith,  Zack 145,  167 

Smith,  Lieut.  A.  C 76,  83,  96 

Smith,  Joseph 24,  198 

Smith,  Thomas 74,  202 

Smith,  John 75,  201 

Smith,  Ransom 93,  203 

Short,  R.  P 24,  198 

Shaver,  J.  A 45,  199 

Sharp,  Lieut.  J.  F 47,  130,  205 

Sharp,  F.  E 98,  203 

Salts,  John 48,  200 

Staples,  Henry 58 

Staples,  Rufus .' 58 

Swan,  J.  H 75,  202 

Swan,  S.  G 126,  205 

Swan,  Wm.  H '. 94,  203 

Slone,  J.  H 75,  202 

Skelton,  H.  H 74,  202 

Stover,  Jake 94,  204 

Stanesberry,  Y.  A ,  .  .74,  202 

Strange,  James 75,  202 

"Strange  Scene" '.-..> 96,  132 

Sampson,  S.  S ..109,  204 

Sherman,  John 116,  204 

''Stocks  in  Camp" 106 

"Snow  Balling" .107 

Sugar  Creek • 161 

"Sun-Shine"..  168 


234  INDEX. 

Seamore,  John 201 

Sexton,  S.  H 201 

Shaw,  Charles 201 

Shipley,  Benj 150,  207 

Sullivan,  Dan 150,  207 

Strickler,  Rube 126 

Speck,   Lawrence  P 45,  200 

Stowe,  Richard 98,  203 

Stevenson,  Jim 158 

Taylor,  A.  D 8,47 

"Through  the  Wilderness" 29 

Tipton,  Lieut.  R.  J 47,  76,  83,203 

Tipton,  J.  A 74,  202 

Thompson,  Sergt.  Joe. 72 

Tatham,  Lieut.  J.  F 82 

Traynor,   Mike 94,  203 

Tresby,  John 94,  203 

"Ten  killed  at  once" 108,  109 

Talley,  C.  F 109,  204 

The  19th  Tenn.  in  Maney's  Brigade 119 

Thomas,  C.  W 126,  205 

Travis,  Benjamin 201 

Terry,  Charles 201 

Templeton,  John 129,  130,  205 

Tyner,  James 8,  47,  58 

Vestal,  Billie 24,  31,  105,  117,  126,  131,  182,  198,  205 

Vernon,  Abner 24,  26,  198 

Vance,  Samuel 45,  199 

w  n  Q.   r^i    F    M  /  8,  11,  12,  23,  41,  47,  52,  62,  64,  66,67 

t         77,  88,  106,  119,  129  130,  205,  208 

Walker  Capt.  T.  H 9,  45,  200 

Walker,  Lode 58 

Worsham,  W.  J 8,  23,  47,  97,  111,  129,  131,  132,  136,  164 

Willett,  Capt.   Neb.  T 8,  45,  199 

Wallace,  Lieut.  Jas.  A 9,  45,  199 

Wilds,  Lieut.  D.  A 9 

Welch,  Leander 24,  199 

Woodall,  Josiah 24,  199 

Webb,  Lieut.  Ben 45,  48,  199,  200 

Webb,  James 24,  26,  198 

Wolfinberger,  K.  S. 45,  200 

White,  John   (Co.  E) 26,  123,  125,  205 

White,  John  (Co.  C) 45,  199 

White,  Emmet 61,  201 

Ward,  William 45,  199 

Waller,  Capt.  Jake  L.     47,  76,  82,  163,  164,  174 

Waller,  Lieut.  H.  A  47,76 


INDEX.  235 

Waller,  Sergt.  Lum  (Co.  E) .' 145,  150,  206 

Wooding,   Lieut.  J.  E 48,  58 

Wood,   Talbert 109,  204 

Waggoner,  George 130,  206 

Williams,  P.  A 74,  202 

Williams,  Newton 105 

Williams,  C.  F 200 

Wax,  William 75,  202 

Wideman,  J.  P 98,  203 

Wright,  Calvin 109,  204 

Wright,  J.  M 114,  204 

Wright,  Thomas 45,  61,  92,  94,  199,  201,  203 

Watts,  William 126,  205 

Watts,  Sam 198,  207 

Webster,  E 45,  207 

Webster,  John 15,  149,  181 

Wiggins,  James 150,  206 

Whaley,  D.  C 150,  206 

Wyman,  William 206 

Wilkins,  Lieut.  Dock ' 45,  200 

Wayler,  Jackson 74,  200 

Wilhorn,  John 45 

Williford,  Jake 62,  97 

York,  Lieut.  U.  S 9 

York,  Charles. ; 45,  200 

Yorkley,  Mike 130,  205 

Zollicoffer,  Gen.  F.  K 13,  14,  16,  17,  18,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26 


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